1. I have linked to the place (in your comment) where the Buddha tells Sandha, “Sandha, for a fine thoroughbred person, the perception of earth has vanished in relation to earth. The perception of water … fire … air has vanished in relation to air. The perception of the dimension of infinite space has vanished in relation to the dimension of infinite space…”
- That is a critical point to understand.
- A Noble Person (Ariya) does not meditate with the focus on a worldly object like breath, a ball of clay, a water bowl, etc., as is done by anariya yogis.
- For that, an Ariya must release the mind from any “perception (saññā) about the world” because they are all “distorted saññā.”
In another thread, I listed the steps needed to get the mind off of “distorted saññā.” They are:
- It is necessary to understand the “purana kamma” and “nava kamma” stages because the “distorted saññā” arises AUTOMATICALLY in the “purana kamma” stage.
- The “purana kamma” stage happens automatically due to unbroken samyojana. the mind goes through this stage in a split second.
- The “nava kamma” stage is where we have free will to control our thoughts, speech, and actions.
- We have to start the “cleansing process” in the “nava kamma” stage and gradually take the mind toward the “purana kamma” stage.
- At the same time, one must learn the the details of the “purana kamma” and “nava kamma” stages. That means learning about “distorted sanna“, Paticca Samuppada, etc.
- At some point in this process, one will become a Sotapanna Anugami, and the mind will get the ability to bypass the “purana kamma” stage and move into the “Satipaṭṭhāna Bhumi, ” allowing the mind to be free of the “distorted sanna.” Here, one can contemplate Dhamma concepts without being hindered by the “distorted sanna.“
- That is when one becomes a Sotapanna by breaking three of the ten samyojana.
- Once becoming a Sotapanna, one must make the effort to get into the “Satipaṭṭhāna Bhumi ” as often as possible. “Satipaṭṭhāna Bhumi ” is where one can engage in Satipaṭṭhāna effectively and start breaking the remaining seven samyojana
- Once all ten samyojana are eliminated, the “nava kamma” stage will not be initiated based on ANY sensory input.
- The basic process is in the chart in #1 of “Pāth to Nibbāna – Learning Dhamma to Become a Sotapanna.”
I discussed the “Sandha Sutta” in “Sammā Samādhi – How to Define It?.”
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2. An Arahant is not bothered by any situations like wildfires, earthquakes, etc.
- They have been freed from suffering, except for the suffering associated with the physical body they are born with.
- They know that ALL suffering will end upon the death of the physical body and look forward to that event.
- They live only for the benefit of others, i.e., to teach Dhamma to others.
- That is why a few Arahants who had come down with terminal illnesses committed suicide (and the Buddha approved it).
