MN 137 upekkha in 4 jhānas does vipassana with 5 senses active

 

Upekkha means Equanimous-observation, not equanimity!

MN 137 is one the the clearest suttas in describing what upekkha does in the four jhānas and samādhi in general.

Did it ever boggle your mind how "equanimity" (how almost everyone translates upekkha) 

is the 7th of 7 awakening factors,

but how can a passive attitude of equanimity lead to actual full enlightenment?

It can't. People just haven't been translating upekkha properly.

It would be like everyone calling a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich just

"Jelly sandwich".

You can't equate the two.

Equanimity is sweet,

but Peanut-butter, the valuable proteins and fatty acids you need to do vipassana,

are where the bulk of the value lies.

Upekkha = equanimous-observation that leads to nirvana.

Equanimity only leads to rebirth as a peaceful and virtuous Brahma realm god.

Upekkha does vipassana. 

upekkha = upa + ikkhati  = looking upon [with right view in 4NT context]

Upekkha = right view / wisdom faculty + samādhi bojjhaṇga awakening factor.

MN 137 makes this very clear.

Direct links to relevant sutta passages

MN 137 Saḷ-āyatana-vibhaṅga: six sense fields analysis

• 137.1 – (six sense fields + dependently arisen effects)
  • 137.1.1 – (6 internal bases)
  • 137.1.2 – (6 external bases)
  • 137.1.3 – (6 classes of consciousness)
  • 137.1.4 – (6 classes of contact)
• 137.2 – (18 mental vicāra/explorations = 6 x [so-manassa + do-manassa + upekkha])
• 137.3 – (36 positions of sentient beings = 18 x [householder + renunciate])
  • 137.3.1 – (6 kinds of householder mental-joy)
  • 137.3.2 – (6 kinds of renunciate mental-joy = pīti of 7sb and 4 jhānas)
  • 137.3.3 – (6 kinds of householder mental-distress: This is what 4th jhāna formula references)
  • 137.3.4 – (6 kinds of renunciate mental-distress)
  • 137.3.5 – (6 kinds of householder equanimous-observation)
  • 137.3.6 – (6 kinds of renunciate equanimous-observation: is what’s in 3rd and 4th jhāna, mind connected to 5 sense fields!)
• 137.4 – (rely on something superior to give up something inferior)
  • 137.4.1 – (rely on renunciate mental-joy to give up householder mental-joy)
  • 137.4.2 – (rely on renunciate mental-distress to give up householder mental-distress)
  • 137.4.3 – (rely on renunciate equanimous-observation to give up householder equanimous-observation)
  • 137.4.4 – (rely on renunciate mental-joy to give up renunciate mental-distress: use first two jhānas to give up renunciate mental-distress)
  • 137.4.5 – (rely on renunciate equanimous-observation to give up renunciate mental-joy: use 4th and 3rd jhāna to give up 1st and 2nd jhāna)
• 137.5 – (two kinds of upekkha equanimous-observation)
  • 137.5.1 - (upekkha based on diversity/nanatta are 3rd and 4th jhāna)
  • 137.5.2 - (upekkha based on unity/ekatta are 4 a-rūpa attainments)
  • 137.4.6 – (rely on upekkha of formless to give up upekkha of fourth jhāna)
  • 137.4.7 – (rely on non-identification to give up upekkha of formless)
    • (end of rely and give up sequence)
• 137.7 - (The teacher -buddha- uses 3 types of sati, to illustrate upekkha reaction)
  • 137.7.1 – (bad disciples)
  • 137.7.2 – (some good some bad disciples)
  • 137.7.3 – (all good disciples)
• 137.8 - (8 vimokkha + simile of horse and ox trainer in 4 directions)
  • (8 vimokkha)
    • (1. Has rūpa, sees rūpa)
    • (2. Doesn’t perceive internal rūpa, perceives external rūpa)
    • (3. Focused on ‘subha’ beautiful)
    • (4. ākāsā-nañcā-(a)yatanaṃ: Dimension of infinite space)
    • (5. Viññāṇañcā-(a)yatanaṃ: Dimension of infinite consciousness)
    • (6. ākiñcaññā-(a)yatanaṃ: Dimension of nothingness)
    • (7. Neva-saññā-nāsaññā-(a)yatanaṃ: Dimension of neither perception nor non-perception)
    • (8. Saññā-vedayita-nirodhaṃ: Cessation of perception and sensation)
• 137.10 - (conclusion)

MN 137 commentary confirms we are talking about about 4 jhānas with 5 senses vs. formless without 5 senses

https://lucid24.org/mn/atthakatha/index.html#137

commentary also confirms the unusual variant upa-vicariti (mental explorations)

is referring to vitakka and vicāra (of first jhāna)

pīti and pamojja of course, are standard part of 7 awakening factors and the pīti of first two jhānas

Some people might object, the word "jhāna" never appears in MN 137.
This is standard argumentum ex silentio:
is when you conclude that something didn't happen, or isn't true, 

because a source doesn't mention it.
The classic historian's fallacy:
"Caesar doesn't mention the battle, therefore it didn't happen."

MN 137 pāḷi sutta text doesn't have the word "jhāna".

❌️ wrong conclusion: Therefore the Buddha is not talking about upekkha in the jhāna formula.

✅ right conclusion: Then we need to examine the sutta more carefully. 

householder upekkha

The householder version of upekkha vipassana does not understand the impermanence and inherent dukkha in pleasure. So their upekkha is essentially the neutral reaction of boredom or indifference to sensual pleasures.

This type of upekkha is temporary and unstable.

upekkha of the 4 jhānas is nānatta (diversity of 5 senses)

MN 137 glosses an important term 'nānatta':

from the first formless attainment.

sabbaso rūpa-saññānaṃ samatikkamā	Going totally beyond perceptions of [both the internal physical body and external] forms,
Paṭigha-saññānaṃ atthaṅgamā	with the ending of perceptions of impingement, [such as extreme cold, heat, bug bites that can only be felt when the mind is still connected to the 5 senses],
nānatta-saññānaṃ a-manasikārā	not focusing on perceptions of diversity [that occur when the five sense faculties are active],
‘an-anto ākāso’ti	[one perceives that] ‘space is infinite’,
ākāsānañcā-(a)yatanaṃ upasampajja viharati.	they attain and abide in dimension of infinite space.

MN 137 explicitly glosses that diversity is referring to the 5 senses of the body.

That is, in the first formless attainment, you no longer are receiving perceptions from the diversity of 5 senses of the body.

Now only the sixth sense faculty, the mind, is active.

What comes right before the first formless attainment? 

That's right! The fourth jhāna, and the 3 jhānas prior,

then must have 5 senses active that were transcended by the first formless attainment.

Otherwise, you would expect to see that clause with nānatta happening in first jhāna formula.

MN 137 states that the Upekkha of the jhānas, as opposed to a householder upekkha,

equanimously-observes the impermanence, and inherent dukkha in the sensual pleasures,

and turns away from it seeing it as inferior and undesirable.

Video showing upekkha someone in fourth jhāna with 5 senses active.

Blue sound waves register at the boy's ears.

Green odor cloud from delicious food register at his nose.

Tactile sensations of bugs register on his body, and he gently uses his hand to brush them away. 

Still have doubts about 5 senses active in 4 jhānas?

Check out DN 21 where the Buddha is hearing sounds in the explicitly stated term jhāna and then talking to a musician about what he heard.

🔗📝 collection of notes DN 21

upekkha of the formless attainments

The difference between upekkha of four jhānas and the formless attainments,

is that in the formless, 

the mind is separated from the 5 senses, 

can't hear sounds, see, smell, etc.

But the Dhamma insight of what upekkha does is essentially the same as in the 4 jhānas.

video shows boy can't hear sounds, see, smell, etc. Mind is separated from body, 

then rūpa material form perceptions are completely surmounted and mind only perceives infinite space.