FOUR DHYANA HEAVENS
Dharma Talk by Living Buddha Lian Sheng on 25/07/96
(Page 182-187)
Translation by TBS Translator
Note: posted from archived TBSN resource

http://www.padmakumara.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5991 

After our discussion on the four Dhyana heavens, some of my disciples wondered why I did not mention about other heavens at the desire realm at all.

Actually there are many heavens in the heaven realm. In short, the four Dhyana heavens can only be reached by means of deep meditation (Dhyana), while all the heavens in the desire realm can be reached without any effort of meditation. As far as I know, a person who does not transgress the five precepts and does ten wholesome deeds, he can ascend to any of the six heavens in the desire realm.

In fact, there is also another group of heavens that I did not mention. They are the four heavens in the "formless realm" which can only be reached by means of deep meditation.

In order to ascend from the form realm to the formless realm, a cultivator must be able to get rid of the awareness of his body and mind. Only his consciousness is allowed to enter into the formless realm. The realm is so-called as form and greed do not exist there anymore. The highest heaven in this realm is called "The peak of cyclic existence", it can only be accessed when one is in the most profound, deepest meditative stabilization.

Below is a summary of how the three realms of heaven differ:

Desire realm: It is almost the same as our human world. Its inhabitants are still full of greed. They have marriage, sex and enjoy eating.

Form realm: Its inhabitants have dignified images.

Formless realm: Its inhabitants only have "consciousness", all other activities cease to operate.

I did not touch on the six heavens of desire realm as they can be reached by not transgressing the five precepts and doing ten wholesome deeds.

Nowadays it is fashionable for the rich and famous to give some form of donation - Giving alms is one of the six paramitas advocated by Buddhism. By so doing, their minds can be uplifted to the heaven of desire realm.

"Giving alms" is quite common nowadays. People like to give some donations in order to accumulate merit. There is nothing wrong with this act. The only implication is that the rich and the famous must be feeling very empty spiritually. In line with the theory of "existentialism", when he is approached for donation, he will think: "Donation is a meritorious deed! Why not? My mind can be transcended to a higher level!"

By so doing, they will feel happy, as the emptiness in their minds are instantly filled. It has become fashionable for the rich and famous to give alms and uplift their spirituality to a higher level.

And this is in line with the Buddhist doctrine of observing five precepts and doing ten wholesome deeds.

However, this kind of merit can only uplift a person to the heavens in the desire realm. It can never rival the attainment by meditation.

Once a cultivator can remain in meditative stabilization, he will be able to radiate clear lights. If one is unable to emit clear lights, one is not in meditative stabilization. And whatever one does at best can only be considered a meritorious act. Only wisdom and stabilization can turn on the clear lights in our bodies.

How can we tell which level of Dhyana Heaven we are in now? As I mentioned them before, each of the eighteen heavens has its' own characteristics.

First region: Full of bliss.

Second region: Exude brightness and purity.

Third region: Quietness and stabilization.

Fourth region: Sense of Equality

The last is also one of the five wisdom a Buddha will have.

By looking at the lights radiated from his body, we can judge how high a cultivator's spiritual attainment is.

We will be able to see our own clear lights and that of others when we are able to be in a meditative stabilization. The lights can sparkle like that of a zircon or a diamond; the brighter the better. For those whose meditative stabilization can reach the fourth region of Dhyana heaven, their bodies will be shining with boundless and sharp radiance.

A cultivator who has just attained the first level of meditative stabilization will be able to see his heart radiates a light which is of milk color- Albeit it is turbid and not very bright.

From the intensity of body light, we will be able to tell a cultivator's spiritual attainment.

For that matter, all human beings radiate some kinds of light - those who have muddle thoughts, focused on love and hatred all day long will radiate very dim light. As their minds are full of all kinds of filthy thoughts, their lights will be more like filthy rivers covered with layers of sludge and mud.

Those who have attained meditative stabilization will definitely radiate light. The brighter the light, the deeper the meditative stabilization.

In short, we can use the intensity of the body lights to judge which Dhyana heaven a cultivator can reach in his meditative stabilization.

That's all for today.

Om Mani Padme Hum

http://www.padmakumara.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5992  

SPIRITUAL LEVELS AT FOUR DHYANA HEAVENS
Dharma Talk by Living Buddha Lian Sheng on 24/07/96
(Page 172-176)
Translation by TBS Translator
Note: posted from archived TBSN resource

By cultivating "Rainbow Light Great attainment", we are able to accumulate merit, increase our wisdom as well as transcend all our sufferings in life. Am I talking about the theoretical benefits or what? Today I am making the confirmation that all the above-mentioned benefits can be verified personally.

"Four Dhyana heavens" is a term often found in Buddhism. And each of the four Dhyana heavens has it's own characteristics. In the first region, we will experience bliss - eternal happiness. In the second, our body will emit pure and clear lights. In the third, we will remain in quietness and stabilization. And In the fourth, we will treat all sentient beings as equal.

What is the bliss that we experience in the first region? When we are in deep meditation (Dhyana), our body will accumulate a lot of energy known as Qi in Chinese. By lifting this energy through our central column, we will experience a certain kind of sensation known as Qing An (pliancy) or Fa Xi (Dharma happiness) in Buddhism.

"How do you know you are enjoying the bliss in the first region?" I always asked those who claimed to be in this region.

"I do not know how to explain, but I am happy all the while!"

From Tantrayana point of view, when Qi enters our central column, there will be a vibration, resulting in an inexplicable comfort. This is known as bliss. It is a bliss only those who do spiritual cultivation have the opportunity to experience it personally.

All True Buddha cultivators and those who have achieved the "Rainbow Light Great Attainment" can verify the existence of such bliss.

If you are interested in what I have just mentioned, you must do cultivation like me.

Having been through the first region first hand, I really know the feeling of pliancy and Dharma happiness.

I will also teach you the way to enter into the second region of Dhyana in the near future. By means of bright spot and psychic heat, we will be able to ignite the lights in our body. After which, all the filth and karmic hindrance will depart from us. With a clean body and a purified mind, we can radiate shining lights. It is a kind of divine feeling that has no equal in this Samsara world.

In this region, our pure body will show brightness and radiate glistening lights, and all our actions are free from contamination. We will feel that we are leading lives of deities.

In the next region, we will be able to have a union with the great void and remain in meditative stabilization. We will realize the true meaning of "emptiness" in the universe. Our mind will remain quiet and immovable; and our wisdom will increase swiftly. With undivided focus, our mind would have transcended this world. This is the manifestation of cultivators in this region.

Let me recap:

The first region - bliss
The second region - purity and brightness
The third region - Quietness and stabilization

Most ordinary people would lose their temper at the slightest provocation. But those who are able to enter into the various stages of Dhyana heavens are different. They will not lose their cool as they have transcended all the human feelings and resided in a stage of immovability.

In the fourth region of Dhyana heavens, we will know the real meaning of equality.

When we look at the Samsara world, we can't help but laugh loudly. Why? Everything is equal. There is no difference between love and hatred. Feeling does not exist. To us, all sentient beings are one and the same. There is no human anxiety to face in the stage of equality.

All human beings have in-born Buddha natures. Love and hatred should be treated as illusions and bubbles.

In the stage of equality, our personal feeling does not bother us; and our wisdom will increase by leaps and bounds constantly. We will be able to see the whole world with a helicopter view from the great void. And we can experience all the different characteristics of the Dyana heavens.

"Rainbow Light Great Attainment" is such a magnificent Dharma that few others can rival. In future, I will talk about other spiritual levels that are more superior to it.

That's all for today.

Om Mani Padme Hum

[ Back ] [ Next ]