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AN 5.51 being free of 5niv (hindrances) is an uttari manussa dhamma (superior human state)


sutta exercpt from AN 5.51:
http://lucid24.org/an/an05/an05-0051/toc-addon/index.html

“so vata, bhikkhave, bhikkhu
"[when] the ****, ***********, monk,
ime pañca āvaraṇe nīvaraṇe
his five obstacles (and) hindrances
cetaso ajjhāruhe
(that the) mind (is) overcome (by),
paññāya dubbalīkaraṇe
(that his) wisdom (is) weakened (by)
ap-pahāya,
(are) not-abandoned,
a-balāya paññāya dubbalāya
(when he is) without-power (and) wisdom weak,
att'-atthaṃ vā ñassati
(that he) {understands} (what is for) his-own-benefit,
par'-atthaṃ vā ñassati
(that he) {understands} (what is for) other's-benefit,
ubhay'-atthaṃ vā ñassati
(that he) {understands} (what is for) both-[parties']-benefit,
uttari vā manussa-dhammā
(for a) superior ** human-state,
alam-ariya-ñāṇa-dassana-visesaṃ
(a) truly-noble-knowledge-(and)-vision-distinction,
sacchi-karissatīti
[that he] would-realize (this),
n'etaṃ ṭhānaṃ vijjati.
[there is] no'[way]-this condition happens.



People from the VRJ (vism. redefinition of jhana) camp, including Ajahn Brahm's redefinition of jhana, often like to say because it's a disrobable offense if a monastic falsely claims a superhuman power (uttari manussa dhamma), and since first jhana is uttari manussa dhamma, therefore, first jhana must be some superhuman extraordinarily difficult samadhi to attain.

So they use that rationale to say even first jhana, the mind must be divorced from the body, meaning you are not capable of hearing sounds, not capable of feeling 100 swarming mosquitoes stabbing you, not even capable of having intention or thought. \

But look at this passage quoted above. It's suggesting that overcoming 5niv already qualifies as a superhuman state. Think about it. Someone who has even temporarily supressed 5niv, while in that state, they are incapable of harming themself and/or others intentionally.

Whereas someone who is a powerful meditator can enter a samadhi where the body disappears at will, history is filled with examples of people who could do this, did not have to be free of 5niv. They could be downright evil and use their superpowers to kill and harm other beings.

Being able to levitate, use the divine eye, enter formless samadhis is superhuman and impressive, but far more impressive is someone who can, whenever they want, think the thoughts they want to think, not think the thoughts they don't want to think, and abide with 5niv (hindrances) supressed, on a moments notice, even if they can't levitate or read minds.

If you carefully look at all the EBT passages on first jhana,  and I have looked at every single occurence, and logged a record of it here:
http://lucid24.org/sted/8aam/8samadhi/smd1/index.html

You'll find that first jhana is simply about pacifying (passadhi) the body and mind, and having 5niv supressed.

Don't believe 🤥lies from late Theravada, look in the EBT 🕵️ and trust in the suttas.





Comments

  1. William ChuJanuary 26, 2019 at 5:26 PM

    Most Theravadins assume that the suppression of the five hindrances is but a warm-up to the main event---hyper-focus. However, to protect the mind from the assault of even tiny bits of the hindrances--the slightest worry, the slightest boredom and torpor, etc.---means to dwell in mental lucidity and dedication to a Dhammic goal. This is the greatest common denominator for all jhanic states, and renders the mind malleable for all sorts of noble purposes.

    ReplyDelete
  2. William ChuJanuary 26, 2019 at 5:29 PM

    The assiduous prevention of the assault of even the tiniest bit of the hindrances requires mindfulness, comprehension, and ardency. These are the main ingredients of jhanas. A mind that dwells free of even the tiniest bit of the hindrances is in an optimal condition to know the drawbacks of sensuality, and of even craving itself.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Alice LeeFebruary 25, 2019 at 4:31 PM

    Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu!

    ReplyDelete

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