EIGHTH STEP

                         RIGHT CONCENTRATION

  WHAT, now, is Right Concentration? Fixing the mind to a single

object  ("One-pointedness of mind"):  this is concentration.

  The four Fundamentals of Attentiveness  (seventh step):  these are

the objects of concentration.

  The four Great Efforts  (sixth step):  these are the requisites

for concentration.

  The practicing, developing and cultivating of these things: this

is the "Development" of concentration.

  [Right Concentration has two degrees of development: .

"Neighborhood-Concentration," which approaches the first trance,

without however attaining it; . "Attainment Concentration," which

is the concentration present in the four trances. The attainment of

the trances, however, is not a requisite for the realization of the

Four Ultramundane Paths of Holiness; and neither

Neighborhood-Concentration nor Attainment-Concentration, as such, in

any way possesses the power of conferring entry into the Four

Ultramundane Paths; hence, in them is really no power to free

oneself permanently from evil things. The realization of the Four

Ultramundane Paths is possible only at the moment of insight into

the impermanency, miserable nature, and impersonality of phenomenal

process of existence. This insight is attainable only during

Neighborhood-Concentration, not during Attainment-Concentration.

  He who has realized one or other of the Four Ultramundane Paths

without ever having attained the Trances, is called a "Dry-visioned

One," or one whose passions are "dried up by Insight." He, however,

who after cultivating the Trances has reached one of the

Ultramundane Paths, is called "one who has taken tranquility as his

vehicle."]

                           THE FOUR TRANCES

  Detached from sensual objects, detached from unwholesome things, the

disciple enters into the first trance, which is accompanied by "Verbal

Though," and "Rumination," is born of "Detachment," and filled with

"Rapture," and "Happiness."

  This first trance is free from five things, and five things are

present. When the disciple enters the first trance, there have

vanished  [the  Hindrances]:  Lust, Ill-will, Torpor and Dullness,

Restlessness and Mental Worry, Doubts; and there are present: Verbal

Thought, Rumination, Rapture, Happiness, and Concentration.

  And further: after the subsiding of verbal thought and rumination,

and by the gaining of inward tranquility and oneness of mind, he

enters into a state free from verbal thought and rumination, the

second trance, which is born of Concentration, and filled with Rapture

and Happiness.

  And further: after the fading away of rapture, he dwells in

equanimity, attentive, clearly conscious; and he experiences in his

person that feeling, of which the Noble Ones say: "Happy lives the man

of equanimity and attentive mind"-thus he enters the third trance.

  And further: after the giving up of pleasure and pain, and through

the disappearance of previous joy and grief, he enters into a state

beyond pleasure and pain, into the fourth trance, which is purified by

equanimity and attentiveness.

  [The four Trances may be obtained by means of Watching over In-and

Out-breathing, as well as through the fourth sublime meditation, the

"Meditation of Equanimity," and others.

    The three other Sublime Meditations of "Loving Kindness,"

"Compassion", and "Sympathetic Joy" may lead to the attainment of

the first three Trances. The "Cemetery Meditations," as well as the

meditation "On Loathsomeness," will produce only the First Trance.

  The "Analysis of the Body," and the Contemplation on the Buddha, the

Law, the Holy Brotherhood, Morality, etc., will only produce

Neighborhood-Concentration.]

  Develop your concentration: for he who has concentration understands

things according to their reality. And what are these things? The

arising and passing away of corporeality, of feeling, perception,

mental formations and consciousness.

  Thus, these five Groups of Existence must be wisely penetrated;

Delusion and Craving must be wisely abandoned; Tranquility and Insight

must be wisely developed.

  This is the Middle Path which the Perfect One has discovered,

which makes one both to see and to know, and which leads to peace,

to discernment, to enlightenment, to Nirvana.

  And following upon this path, you will put an end to suffering.