Overcoming the Five Hindrances

In the following quotes, Lord Buddha describes meditating to overcome the Five Hindrances:

Monks, what needs to be done further? A monk in this Norm-Discipline will find a quiet shelter which is a forest, the root of a tree, a mountain, a mountain valley, a cave, a cemetery, a thorn forest, an open-air area or a heap of straw. He returns from gathering alms and after his meal he sits cross-legged, upright, keeps mindfulness.

If he eliminates covetousness and has a mind without of covetousness, he will purify the mind from covetousness. If he eliminates violence and ill will, he is without thought of ill will and he has compassion, he will purify the mind from ill will. If he eliminates sloth, he is without sloth, contemplates at the light, mindful, he will purify the mind from sloth. If he eliminates restlessness, his mind is not distracted and he is tranquilized, mindful, he will purify the mind from restlessness. If he eliminates doubt, he is free from doubt and he is firm with wholesome states, he will purify the mind from doubt.

A monk contemplates and sees these Five Hindrances which have not been eliminated as a debt, a disease, a prison, slavery, travelling though a remote path, and he contemplates and see these Five Hindrances which are eliminated as being without debt, being without disease, being free from prison, being liberated and being in a secure place.

(Majjhim-Nikaya, 502-507.)

The Four Rupa-jhana

In the following quote, Lord Buddha describes the Four Rupa Jhanas:

A monk eliminates the Five Hindrances which are defilements of the mind that weaken wisdom and he calms his mind from sense-desire and unwholesome states, then he attains the first Jhana. He has Applied Thought (Vitakka), Sustained Thought  and Joy ...

Again, a monk attains the second Jhana and his inner mind is purified and becomes one-pointed because Applied Thought (Vitakka) and Sustained Thought (Vicara) are eliminated. There are only Joy and happiness of concentration ...

Again, a monk who has equanimity and mindfulness consumes happiness with both mind and body. Because Joy is eliminated he attains the third Jhana.The Phra Ariyas (Noble Ones) praise those who attain this Jhana as living happily with equanimity and mindfulness ...

Again, a monk who attains the fourth Jhana has no suffering or happiness because Happiness and Suffering are eliminated and his former sorrow is eliminated. There is only equanimity which purifies mindfulness. The pure mind suffuses every part of his whole body like a man whose head is covered by a white cloth. There is no part of his body untouched by the white cloth.

(Majjhim-Nikaya, 502-507.)

Meditating through the Four Rupa-jhanas

When the meditator concentrates the mind to stop still firmly so well that he or she can attain a counterpart sign deeply seated in both eye and mind, then all Five Jhana Factors will appear together to suppress the Five Hindrances. This is the First Jhana.

When the meditator trains the mind to stop firmly even more still and deeper, the mind lets go of the coarsest factors which are Applied Thought and Sustained Thought, only Rapture, Peaceful Happiness and One-pointed Concentration remain. This is the Second Jhana.

When the meditator trains the mind to stop more firmly still and it becomes more  refined, the mind drops Rapture, and only Peaceful Happiness and One-pointed Concentration remain. This is the Third Jhana.

When the meditator trains the mind to stop still firmly even deeper and more refined, the mind drops Peaceful Happiness, so that only One-pointed Concentration remains and the mind becomes still in Equanimity. This is concentration of the Fourth Jhana.

 

The fourfold classification of Rupa-jhanas

Jhana is a state of serene contemplation attained by meditation.  The Rupa-jhanas are categorized in two ways: the fourfold classification and the fivefold classification. The fourfold classification was used by Lord Buddha throughout the Suttas. The fivefold classification appears in the Abhidhamma as a more logical treatment of the Five Hindrances and Five Jhana factors.

1. The First Jhana has five Jhana Factors:
   1. Applied Thought or Attention (Vitakka),
   2. Sustained Thought or Contemplation (Vicara),
   3. Joy or Rapture (Piti),
   4. Peaceful Happiness (Sukha),
   5. One-pointed Concentration (Ekaggata).
2. The Second Jhana has three Jhana Factors:
   1. Joy or Rapture,
   2. Peaceful Happiness,
   3. One-pointed Concentration,
   Applied Thought or Attention and Sustained Thought are eliminated.
3. The Third Jhana has two Jhana Factors:
   1. Peaceful Happiness,
   2. One-pointed Concentration.
   Joy or Rapture is eliminated.
4. The Fourth Jhana has two Jhana Factors:
   1. One-pointed Concentration,
   2. Equanimity.
   When Joy is eliminated, the mind attains equanimity.

The fivefold classification of the Rupa-jhanas

1. The First Jhana has five Jhana Factors:
   1. Applied Thought or Attention,
   2. Sustained Thought or Contemplation,
   3. Joy or Rapture,
   4. Peaceful Happiness,
   5. One-pointed Concentration.
2. The Second Jhana has four Jhana Factors:
   1. Sustained Thought or Contemplation,
   2. Joy or Rapture,
   3. Peaceful Happiness,
   4. One-pointed Concentration.
   Applied Thought or Attention is eliminated.
3. The Third Jhana has three Jhana Factors:
   1. Joy or Rapture,
   2. Peaceful Happiness,
   3. One-pointed Concentration.
   Sustained Thought or Contemplation is eliminated.
4. The Fourth Jhana has two Jhana Factors:
   1. Peaceful Happiness,
   2. One-pointed Concentration.
   Joy or Rapture is eliminated.
5. The Fifth Jhana has two Jhana Factors:
   1. One-pointed Concentration,
   2. Equanimity.
   3. When Happiness is eliminated, the mind attains Equanimity.

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