So the first stage of meditation is the
development of concentration which
combines all these energies into a
harmonious flow, binds together this
'bundle of selves' and produces aunified
direction for them. When all the 'selves' or
energies of which we are consciously aware
have been harmonizedand focusedon the
object of meditation, then we have
achieved what we call horizontal
integration. This is relatively easy toachieve
for short periods, but this grosser partof
the mind of which we are aware is onlythe
tip of the iceberg.b) Absorption (Jhana): The next task is to
achieve vertical integration byharmonizing
the energies of the gross and subtle aspects
of the mind. This is much harder to achieve
than horizontal integration. Ittakes time for
the process of meditation to filter through
and begin to seep into the depths and
heights of the mind. When this vertical
integration is achieved, we have started to
go beyond the stage of concentration and
embark on the stage of absorption.
The 'absorption' we refer to here is an
absorption in higher states of consciousness
than those we usually experience. For
convenience, we can broadly divide those
higher states into four ascending levels. We
must remember that each level develops
out of the previous one, and to talk of levels
at all is to impose a rigid structure on a
natural and dynamic process.The first level we call the level of
integration. Here one has achieved both
horizontal and ver-tical integration of one's
energies. One feels happy and buoyant
emotionally, and there is a complete
absence of mental chatter, although there
may besome discursive mental activity.If one develops this level fully, one reaches
the level of inspiration. One's mind at this
level is likened to a pool of water which is
constantly refreshed by an underground
spring. So, one feels in contact with a fresh
spring of creative energy. From this level
onwards discursive mental activity has died
away. This does not mean that the mind is
blank or dead. Rather there is a state of
tremendously heightened awareness.Out of this level, there arises the level of
saturation. The traditional simile to describe
this level is that of a bed of lotuses growing
in the water, totally soaked and saturated
by water. So, at this level you experience
the creative energy not as bubbling up
within you but as saturating your entire
being. The whole mind and the
environment as well are transformed by the
higher level of consciousness.Lastly, one can go beyond this to the level
of radiation. At this level the state of mind
is so positive that you cannot be affected by
anything negative whatsoever. Indeed, so
powerful is the concentration, and so
positive are the emotions that they can
affect the environment, even acting at a
distance in supernormal ways. This level is
traditionally the one on which a person can
develop various so-called supernatural
powers.This level of experience is seen by some
religious traditions as the goal of spiritual
life, but it is not so with Buddhism. The
process of self-transformation has not been
taken far enough. Indeed, Buddhism sees
that if someone who comes so far and
makes no further effort, he will gradually
lose everything which he has gained,
because the underlying causes of unhappy
states of mind have not been removed.16