Studying And Practicing With “The Iddhipāda-Vibhaṅga Sutta — An Analysis Of The Bases Of Power”: Perceptions Of Night, Daytime And Light (5 of 7)

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Article shortcut: https://tinyurl.com/basesofpower

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Series introduction:

While I reference some non-Buddhist material most everything in the notes and podcasts for this series on The Iddhipāda-Vibhaṅga Sutta are solely my effort to relate considerations, questions, experiences, explorations, suggestions, interpretations and practices involved and associated with this sutta.

This series comes via seven categories/blog posts/podcasts:

1. Introduction; the key encapsulation/encoding/summary paragraph of the whole sutta which includes and weaves in the four powers; and a reading of one of two translations for the sutta
2. Unpacking of the hindrances and the other of two translations for the sutta
3. A (type of) situational awareness
4. 32 parts of the body
5. Perceptions of night, daytime and light
6. “Psychic Powers,” practice combinations and miscellany
7. Summary, findings, observations and comparisons

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In more detail, the four Iddhipāda — sometimes translated as bases of psychic power, basis of psychic power, bases of power, base of spiritual power, wings to success, paths of accomplishment, accomplishments, or roads to power — are:

1. chanda: desire; enthusiasm; purpose; wish
2. viriya: persistence; determination energy; effort; will
3. citta: intent; consciousness; knowing mind; mental development; devoting mind to; heart-mind
4. vīmaṃsā: investigation; inquiry; discernment; discrimination; reason; interest; intelligent curiosity; [(perhaps a new contribution, or for chanda:) balanced and helpful enthrallment, fascination]; feedback and fine tuning, adjustment; learn from doing; circumspection

Along with aiding our even mundane accomplishments and mastery, perhaps the Iddhipāda play a significant role in approaching will — the way one decides on and initiates action — and at the core of The Iddhipāda-Vibhaṅga Sutta is an analysis of will along with instructions for its training, development, and use.

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Perceptions of Night, Daytime and Light

nemo malux felix — “The treacherous can not withstand the daylight”

The first two portions of this podcast are without notes. [There I mention all actions involve intent. I guess some exceptions in the mundane sense could be instincts and “temporary insanity”.]

The last part of the podcast references my notes, mainly regarding the following portion of the “The Iddhipāda-Vibhaṅga Sutta — An Analysis Of The Bases Of Power”:

“And how does a monk dwell by night as by day, and by day as by night? There is the case where a monk at night develops the base of power endowed with concentration founded on desire & the fabrications of exertion by means of the same modes [permutations] & signs & themes that he uses by day, and by day he develops the base of power endowed with concentration founded on desire & the fabrications of exertion by means of the same modes & signs & themes that he uses by night. This is how a monk dwells by night as by day, and by day as by night.

“And how does a monk—by means of an awareness open & unhampered—develop a brightened mind? There is the case where a monk has the perception of light, the perception of daytime [at any hour of the day] well in hand & well-established. This is how a monk—by means of an awareness open & unhampered—develops a brightened mind.

[The above discussion is then repeated for persistence, intent, & discrimination.]

or translated:

“And how does a mendicant meditate as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day? It’s when a mendicant develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm and active effort, with the same features, attributes, and signs by day as by night. And they develop it with the same features, attributes, and signs by night as by day. That’s how a mendicant meditates as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day.

And how, with an open and unenveloped heart, does a mendicant develop a mind that’s full of radiance? It’s when a mendicant has properly grasped the perception of light, and has properly grasped the perception of day. That’s how, with an open and unenveloped heart, a mendicant develops a mind that’s full of radiance.”

[above portion repeated three more times, but swapping out “enthusiasm” for “energy,” then swapping out for “mental development,” and finally for “inquiry”]

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I practiced with the former translation which contains more specific detail than the latter.

Three groups of bigger and primary questions:

1. Why these instructions? See later parts in this series for my speculation
2. How exactly does one meditate as by day, so by night; as by night, so by day to develop “the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm and active effort, energy and active effort, mental development and active effort, and inquiry and active effort”? or the translation desire & the fabrications of exertion; persistence & the fabrications of exertion; intent & the fabrications of exertion; & discrimination & the fabrications of exertion. BTW, if you haven’t noticed, the Buddha was big on exertion and effort.
3. For contemplation and meditation: What are the various (relative) perception(s)(, processes and dynamics) of: day; night; night and day; day and night; light; darkness; varying degrees and amounts of light and darkness together; (and how about the uncommon perceptions of daytime during night; nighttime during the day; light when dark; and darkness when light)? How about more metaphorical perceptions for light such as awakening, knowledge, realization, benevolence, vision, illumination and for darkness such as ignorance?

How do we discern and detect day (and night) (in the body)?

Some examples of modes [permutations], signs, themes, features, and attributes for day:

• sunlight
• activity, energy
• (mass) movement
• sounds of birds
• warmth
• depending on season and location, elements of earth (physical objects) and air (movement) may be more prevalent during the day
• numerous, albeit superficial connections amongst fellow human beings

Some examples of modes [permutations], signs, themes, features, and attributes for night:

• protection
• rest
• comfort
• sleep
• stillness
• sounds of insects and night creatures
• depending on season and location, elements of fire (warmth/coolness) and water (bathroom at night and more challenging to find) may be more prevalent at night
• fewer, but deeper, more intimate connections

• How do we connect with perceptions? Perhaps via contact, feeling or sensing, and active thought.
• To what significant extent are consciousness and energy involved with this? How are they involved?
• Light’s role in the snake/stick perception/misperception
• Holding in awareness (one or various) perceptions of light and day during night and (one or various) perceptions of night during day as meditation objects for these two time periods.
• Stark, and sometimes intense, exploration in/of polarity
• Can there be jhanas with/using: “by day he develops the base of power endowed with concentration founded on desire & the fabrications of exertion by means of the same modes & signs & themes that he uses by night” or “immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort, with the same features, attributes, and signs by day as by night” as the meditation object since immersion and concentration is involved?
• How does/would prolonged and consistent meditation and dwelling “by night as by day, and by day as by night” influence those one lives with and/or near? Are practical measures needed with this? If so, what and why?

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Or listen via Insight Timer (app or website)

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Out of this placement of King and Priest as the highest offices of this world emerged the restatement of the ancient ritual of establishing two pillars at the entrance of every temple, oriented to the rising sun (rising son = Horus Rising or Horizon) coming over the horizon on the first day of spring on the vernal equinox. These two pillars represent the Line of the King and the Line of the Priest, who established their lineages to control the Land and the Law throughout history to the present time.

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The storyline of the Isis and Osiris mystery cult is simple and quite instructive. There are nine godheads in the primary Egyptian Pantheon known as the Ennead. Anu sits at the top of the Council of Nine (the Ennead). Below him are two sets of brother/sister twins (husband and wife) that embody the physical Earth in its primordial elements: Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Out of these emerge another two sets of brother/sister twins (husband and wife), representing the polarity of dark and light in the false light matrix of the hologram containment field. These are Isis and Osiris on the light side, from who emerges the prodigal Sun/Son Horus, who rises in the east at the Horizon (Horus Rising). Set and Nephthys counter the light as it is extinguished on the western horizon by Set as he removes the light of the day at Sun-Set and gives it over to his sister/wife to cover the Night. Light and Dark, Black and White, the never-ending polarity, displayed for all to see on every Masonic temple floor, in Westminster Abbey and many more.

from p.43 and p.104 of An Overview of the World System of Bondage and Separation from Life

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The raw unedited YouTube transcription of this podcast:

perceptions of night daytime and light this is part five in a seven part series

on studying and practicing with the eripada fifanga suta an analysis of the basis of

power for the perceptions of day and night i’ll read two different

translations of this section partial and then speak without notes first and how

does a monk dwell by night as by day and by day as by night there is the case

where a monk at night develops the base of power endowed with concentration

founded on desire and the fabrications of exertion by means of the same modes

permutations and signs and themes that he uses by day

and by day he develops the base of power endowed with concentration founded on

desire and the fabrications of exertion by means of the same

modes and signs and themes that he uses by night this is how monk dwells by night

as my day and by day as by night in the second translation and how does

amendiquet meditate as by day as by night and by night is by day it’s when a

mendicant develops the base of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm an act of effort with the

same features attributes and signs by day as by night and they develop it with

the same features attributes and signs by night as by day that’s how a monk

armendicate meditates as by day so by night as by night so by day

so this is repeated for each of the other three bases of power roads to

power with persistence or energy and then intent or mind and then discernment and the

other translations given for discernment so right away we have various elements here we’re dealing with the idipatas and

and concentration or the other one translation is immersion and then it’s

founded on each of the idipatas and then the one kind of constant running through all

this is the fabrication of exertion or active effort because the buddha was big

on energy and effort persist um yeah it wasn’t for the lazy and then we get into

even more detailed things that kind of throw me for a loop here there’s three different things here

the nsr because translation gives the same modes permutations in brackets and

signs and themes while um sujatu’s because jatu uses

features attributes and signs so both agree with signs as a

translation we’ve got modes and themes for one features and attributes for the

other and then of course the last one day and night so all these different elements so

i’ll just start with the first one with desire or enthu sujatu’s is enthusiasm so the question

that occurred to me with this is well what am i enthusiastic about or

where is their enthusiasm and desire in the daytime and what and where is their

enthusiasm and desire at night before i get into this another quick aside is

that this is my current understanding obviously up until now and those

are and these reflections are just up until now

because our world is rapidly changing around the time i’m speaking this

and has been for probably two years now even more so than usual it seems in

january of 2022 so if i just have to look at desire in

my own experience through enthusiasm my own experience of course it it changes

and has changed throughout the year where i used to desire you know some things oh i no longer desire and what i

was enthusiastic about once i’m no longer enthusiastic about now

of course these can change they seem to be more of a spiritual bent nature of work

but just some examples are friendship especially spiritual friendship if we

can use that word spiritual those who are interested in the type of things i’m

interested in knowing suffering in the end of suffering knowing truth in reality how to

better oneself and help others help oneself and help others which goes right along with those previous two and those

are also other desires and enthusiastic things of study and practice that

involve and work that involves those things as well so i guess we could look at the opposite of what i’m not enthusiastic

about or desirous about i guess it would be kind of the contrary to those especially needless distractions

or that’s just a perception when i can’t see the value and

the opportunity in everything for what i mentioned before

and seeing where whatever occurs or doesn’t occur can either lead towards

the aforementioned or away from the aforementioned so then we notice enthusiasm and desire

in others and kind of apply that to what i’ve just mentioned here but so when we

go into that further how does this apply to day and night so

i would say eventually these will maybe start more naturally blending

into less distinctions of day and night so right now those desires and enthusiasms

perhaps would be more outwardly displayed during the day and more inwardly displayed or ideally

inwardly displayed carried out practiced contemplated reflected on at night so

then when we go into looking at using the same modes permutation signs and themes or

features attributes and signs by day is by night to mix these

translations how do those come in a mode a sign and a theme

features and attributes a mode is a way of doing things signs are indicators

of something else themes are commonalities amongst occurrences

perhaps one translation or way of looking at it features what features do day and night have

attributes what is one attribute today what is one attribute tonight and all

this in the context of enthusiasm and desire so there’s a lot

there to to try to sort through or maybe we don’t even need to sort

through it the audience and i here let’s hold this in awareness for contemplation so what are

some of the modes that happen in daytime well i’m assuming it would be different

for monastics than lay people although i’m sure there’s plenty of commonalities between the two and i

can’t speak towards monastic life so much other than living a life of solitude but still within society or

maybe more solitude than normal but not so much anymore with the lockdowns as people are getting a

taste of that so modes during the day would be going out

doing things when commercial businesses are open places where people gather

things that people can do during the day outside on electronics inside

communicating with people who have business hours appointments

get togethers virtually or in real life and so perhaps this would speak to

spiritual friendship so a daytime sign would be of course light in this place into the

rest of the suta sunlight artificial light if endures if not

access to the sun movement outside of people more activity

in general more action more interaction work careers

all sorts of activity and themes i guess that would cover plenty of themes i’m just going to say

that covers pretty much the features and attributes of day for me that i can know

at least externally internally it seems to be somewhat going along with that unless

doing practice or study and how about by night kind of night modes are there got more

rest right more winding down maybe relaxation

people are maybe getting intimate unwinding maybe doing chores

they didn’t have time for during the day there also seems to be

maybe a little bit more criminal activity at night not exposed to daylight maybe

more ill-mindedness in general or maybe not if their sleep of course is another huge thing at night

there’s dreaming rest maybe there’s night life if that’s still

going on people going out and partying probably not as much now

and so those are also some of the signs and themes features and attributes

of night so from a lay perspective which made me more challenging than

living in an environment that’s somewhat stable and a lot of the unwholesome

ways of the world are being secluded from so don’t have a lot of the gross

challenges to deal with and so how in lay life could this be

adopting some of these modes signs and themes features and attributes of the day

into the night and those of the night and today and how could it be practical

to do so and why would you even want to do that well i’ll get into other areas there may

be more metaphysical about this question in other episodes on other episodes of

this podcast series one thing is limitation

and lack of limitation so if one is tied into these just ways of the world that

seem to operate by day and the same as by night and you’re kind of locked into

certain limitations because of going along with the flow of the world so

maybe if we start to like mix and match these then there tends to be more possibilities open up well routines

and ritualistic behavior almost and certain habits can be helpful in providing a sense of

stability regularity and knowing what will happen in this veneer of safety

it’s very helpful for some for some it kind of turns into a rut but perhaps

what was talked about here is talked about here could help loosen the bonds of some of

those rituals habits routines and hopefully with the concentration built in it won’t be as

destabilizing for ourselves and others anyone choosing to look into this practices so now moving on to the

persistence betty potter

so what persists during the day and night night and day for me persistence

would be really seems to be noticeable and called forth when almost forced to do something when

there’s either a deadline or a need or inspiration strikes so if i get

inspired about a work topic i’d usually persist with that a lot of times that happens mostly during the day but

sometimes at night wanting to really get it done so staying at it persisting at it sometimes

wanting to help others or making commitments to help others committing to following through and then

persistence is needed to carry that out certain regular obligations maybe at

first persistent more persistence is needed and then once that becomes habitual

not as much persistence as needed how does the world persist kind of in the same ways kind of whatever programs and

training they’ve been done they’ve accomplished their they have undertaken and so persistence

will operate within those lifestyles and obligations too

to whatever degree causes and conditions make possible or not possible

and so persistence at night if we’re all adults here perhaps sometimes it’s with lovemaking

doesn’t seem to be too much persistence needed in sleeping or too much persistence needed in

relaxing maybe there’s persistence needed in staying indoors

or maybe that’s a surrendering of persistence i’m not sure or maybe it’s the opposite of really need to persist

in getting and staying outside at night because there’s no really desire to do so

so intent now the third nidipada what are some of the

that seem to be operating much of the day for me going back to what i said

earlier kind of with the desire those seem to be founded on

like intense and for me it seems this actually kind of starts at intent because if i have

the intent and can see the power of intent how most of our

thoughts words and actions are driven by intent

even if it’s an automatic or habitual thought

speaking or action at one point there’s an intent involved

even if it was learned from our parents and then they learned it from their

parents or wherever it started something happened where somebody made an intention

to think speak and or act in a certain way due to some cause and condition

from my understanding of this anyway and so i can become aware of those then you

can see if it’s a wise intent right intent or if it will lead towards our

benefit and long-term happiness and the benefit and long-term happiness of others or not if we have that

discernment to know that that’s that way and that’ll tie into the next one with this intent during the day

again for me would be truth wisdom kindness these core values

being free courageous being of service this constant recalling of that intent

and this is where mindfulness comes in to remember those remembering of that having that presence to

remind of this and then during the night such intense intense

intense turn more inward and reflective perhaps the key is weaving this into

every moment so where our thought speech and actions are derived from this

they spring forth from this and when that commitment and faith is there that it doesn’t necessarily have

to be in mind all the time it can just inform thought speech actions when the

mindfulness isn’t as present and this is also where the precepts help

on this too having a firm ethical basis from which to operate from but one way to look at

it night two is sleep you know of course we all need the right amount of sleep for us

but if we’re but and if we’re on an awakening path realizing

awakening you know how much is our nighttime sleep kind of symbolic

of leading away from awakening realizing awakening we look at being free

externally and internally during the day and night and how is that

is there areas where i can flip-flop the two to boost each one and now on to

discernment the fourth idipada so what are some of the modes permutations

signs and themes features and attributes of discernment in the day and night and this word

permutation too i like this if something permeates something it goes all the way through it right so something that goes

all the way through the daytime in daytime these perceptions

of course again it’s important to notice these perceptions we’re working with

which can be very malleable wieldy and so what is something that just a

persistent permeation throughout the daytime in regards to discernment

if i’m approaching this right and then concentration or immersion factors in here too well you know during

the daytime it’s daylight usually in lots of parts of the world some parts the world’s not so much

but that perception of daylight is pretty much constant during the day

whether we’re aware of it or not at least to some degree perhaps

that’s one way we can discern night and day the movement of the sun through the sky

ever so slightly but how much of how many of us really look up into the sky

that often during the day and night how often do we become aware of daylight

darkness either outside or inside structures what about in meditation

how would this help what are some other persistent

perceptions that are operating internally and externally in the daytime

well in the day time i guess at night too people are constantly

usually either crying out for love or showing showing love crying out for love maybe showing

ego agendas programs or carrying them out promoting certain ones

disregarding others with more external activity again during the day

and where do we make discernments at the day what are some of the signs we can discern in the

daytime themes features and attributes so some of these i talked about earlier

so i won’t repeat them anymore now how do we discern

our use or muscle of discernment for the benefit in this context so if we

don’t even know how the world or especially ourselves

how i can tell night from day what’s going on with me more so during the

day more sort of during the night then there’s little chance to go

as by day as by night and by night as by day so distinguishing discriminating knowing

the difference ironically in order to be able to swap out the two

or invert the two or flip the two using some of those or knowing some of those differences

in the day time and night and night and day being aware of these

really a mind-blowing thing and kind of a wake-up call

to see and know how much we don’t see and know about

how things operate in the day how things operate at night or at least we think we know on the

surface but then when we try to interpose the two it kind of scrambles things up a little

bit and i quickly realized that what i thought i knew especially what i thought i knew was

possible is seen in a whole different light so to speak

and so that’s my kind of spontaneous rambling without my notes on the perceptions of

day and night the section on light the perception of light and daylight is

likely one of the more straightforward passages in this whole suta maybe not

though with the 32 parts of the body so just taking the two different translations here and riffing on them

without any notes and how with an open and unenveloped heart does a minikit

develop a mind that’s full of radiance it’s when a mendicant has properly

grasped the perception of light and has properly grasped

the perception of day that’s how with an open and unenveloped heart a medicate

develops a mind that’s full of radiance and that’s the suta central translation

by ponte sujato this next one from thanosarabiku and how

does a monk by means of an awareness open and unhampered develop a brightened

mind there is the case where a monk has a perception of light the perception of

daytime at any hour of the day well in hand and well established this

is how a monk by means of an awareness open and unhampered develops a brightened mind

so both these words of radiance and brightness they’re pretty comparable

as far as my understanding goes as far as my current understanding goes so the

main comparisons here are the perception of light grass properly contrasted with

having the perception of light well in hand well established and the same with

daylight so the main question here is how does one properly grasp the

perception of light what’s the unpop what’s the un proper or not proper

grasping of the perception of light so if this question can be answered then i

think that translation is fairly helpful but then we go into well in hand well established with the

perception of light well that seems a little bit more descriptive but how do

you have the perception of light perception of daytime at any hour of the day by the way

well in hand and well established well any hour of the day is interesting here too so for dealing with

the previous section of night and day day and night perceptions of night in the day and day in the night

well this lay adds another layer of light on top of

our in addition to or under or throughout both day and night so this

one for me was particularly interesting to practice at night obviously where the perception

of light comes primarily internally it’s more noticeable than because

not flooded with external light a lot of people talk about an internal light that

they can see when meditating certain meditations then of course we have

this notion some call false light which i’m not going to go into depth here

maybe might be interesting to note artificial light from like a fluorescent light

versus natural daylight that’s maybe not too bright maybe not too dim

so when we talk about well in hand well established again well in hand would be something

that’s ready to go there’s some sense of immediate agency if something’s

in your hand some amount of influence to it with it

and well established guessing this would mean like think of a big business that’s

really established a huge mega name that’s been around for years and years and years so i would

think maybe toyota would be a well-established

car brand currently in 2022 so how would you

establish the perception of light well what would be the opposite of that how could you

establish perception of light that’s not well is the difference discernible and

then can the importance be detected of well versus the opposite and why is

it important and how does this relate to a brightened mind or a mind that’s full of radiance

and then we throw in daytime into the mix as well what is the perception of light the

perception of daytime it would be observing phenomena

and saying or knowing labeling calling oh that’s light oh

that’s daytime now is this the same for everybody my guess would be probably not is there a lot of

consistency in this amongst people oh yeah lots but it’s those

little differences that make all the difference at the time of this recording i have an

open call out for a podcast just asking two simple questions

what is light and how do you know perhaps such an episode will

facilitate listeners brightened mind full of radiance

it’s worth noting here an open and unenveloped heart

that reminds me of a teacher mentioning the true hearts release

and the other translation here is awareness open and unhampered so we’re talking

about the heart and awareness here have to look at the translation again but maybe it’s chitta or maybe not i don’t

know yet the height and full maturation of a heart and mind

seems like this is it trying to come up with anything beyond this

other than completely realized liberation and of course such a brightened mind and

heart full of radiance open and unhampered unenveloped

is fertile ground for realizing awakening liberation release

so this is the part with my notes of the suta that deals with perceptions of

night daytime light involves the portion and how does a monk dwell by night as by

day and by day as by night there is the case where a monk at night develops the

base of power endowed with concentration founded on desire and the fabrications

of exertion by means of the same modes permutations and signs and themes that

he uses by day and by day he develops the base of power endowed with

concentration founded on desire in the fabrications of exertion by means of the same modes and

signs and themes that he uses by night this is how a monk dwells by night as by day and by day is

by night and how does a monk by means of an awareness open and unhampered

develop a brightened mind there is the case where a monk has the perception of

light the perception of daytime at any hour of the day well in hand and well established this

is how a monk by means of an awareness open and

unhampered develops a brightened mind and then the above is repeated for

persistence intent and discrimination the other three etipada

the other translation of this is and how does the mendiquette meditate

as by day so by night as by night so by day

it’s when a minikit develops the basis of psychic power that has immersion due

to enthusiasm and active effort with the same features attributes and signs by

day as by night and they develop it with the same features attributes and signs

by night as by day that’s how a minikit meditates as by day so by night as by

night so by day and how with an open and unenveloped

heart does a mendicate develop a mind that’s full of radiance it’s when a

minikit has properly grasped the perception of light and has properly

grasped the perception of day that’s how with an open and unenveloped

heart a minikit develops a mine that’s full of radiance and again here the above

portion is repeated three more times instead of enthusiasm it goes for energy

mental development and inquiry the other three etipada so i mostly practice with the

former translation which contains more specific detail than the

latter the latter at least for the first part of it at least for the second part of it where

the second translation just says properly grasp the perception of light

and perception of day but doesn’t give any more detail on that for the time being there seems to be

three groups of bigger and primary questions about this number one why

these instructions and why would the buddha give these instructions and maybe

see more about how light equates to radiance in a bright mind but why would anyone

want to dwell by night is by day and by day is by night

is it just to be more awake more wakefulness

does it have deeper purposes or meanings or benefits and then how would it relate to

the development of these so-called psychic powers and i’ll

likely speculate on some of that in later parts of the series

the second group here is you know how exactly does one do this how does one

meditate as by day so by night as by night so by day to develop the basis of

psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm and active effort energy and

active effort mental development and active effort and inquiry and active effort

are the translation desire in the fabrications of exertion persistence in the fabrications of

exertion intent in the fabrication of of exertion

and discrimination and the fabrications of exertion by the way if you haven’t noticed the buddha was kind of big on

exertion effort how exactly does one meditate this way

like details because not too many details are given here and then number three

for contemplation meditation on this what are the various relative

perceptions processes and dynamics of

breaking this down further what are these various relative perceptions processes and dynamics of

day night night and day day and night light

darkness varying degrees and amounts of light and darkness together

and how about the more uncommon perceptions of daytime during the night

night time during the day light went dark and darkness when light

so again what are the relative perceptions around all those what are the processes involved in those

perceptual processes mental processes physical sensing processes

etc and the dynamics that come into play with all those

either individually or playing on each other transitioning between the two

how one might build up some perceptual muscle and

progress on some of these how might that be done and what might be the differences

along the way of that training why might that be important and then how about the more metaphorical

perceptions for light such as awakening knowledge realization benevolence vision

illumination and then the metaphorical perceptions for darkness like ignorance

are those important to consider if so why so then some more minor questions here

how do we discern and detect day and night in the body

or not even involving the body if you don’t want to i would say maybe

to venture a guess at that question how does one even connect with perceptions to begin with and

perhaps that’s through contact feeling or sensing and or active thought

when there’s contact with a perception then we’re connecting with that perception

and awareness right that awareness of that perception is being contacted

and so it’s then an awareness some people might be able to

connect with perceptions of day and night through feeling or sensing so imagine what does it feel

like in general before this training for night and for day and some people

connect with the world through active thought however this perhaps can be very

challenging because the mind doesn’t really stay on track a lot it gets distracted easy something else

grabs attention loses certain things lose luster and appeal

or importance or seeming importance also with the feeling or sensing a lot of

times that might be hard to control might not have much choice over them

and so then breaking down kind of some examples of what some of these

modes permutations signs themes features and attributes for day might be

and a few here are sunlight you know during the day maybe there’s

activity and energy during the day at least of a certain

kind maybe there’s more mass movement of people

animals or many animals maybe more traffic the vehicles

sounds of birds warmth from sunlight depending on what part of the world you are and also

depending on the seasonal location maybe the elements of earth or physical

objects and air and movement or the element of air can

be represented by movement may be more prevalent during the day so if there’s physical objects that can

be seen noticed and gone after pursued it seems to be

more easily done in daylight and with that pursuit of physical objects doing things

the air element might come into more play through movement people going from object to object

and maybe there’s more and more numerous connections but maybe there are more superficial

connections amongst fellow human beings during the day hi how are you how you doing kind of

thing so some examples are modes permutations signs themes features and attributes for night

protection a lot of people depending on where you’re at in the world seek shelter at night for protection

from the elements maybe other creatures and humans for rest a lot of people rest at night

comfort maybe more comfortable or comfort might be sought more

at night of course sleep and stillness and night sounds of insects and night

creatures and again depending on the season location maybe the elements of fire

warmth and coolness might play more into effect here if it’s cold out

uh hunker down and stay warm or if it’s their extreme heat out then

try to cool with an air conditioning system if possible maybe the element of water

having a place to go the bathroom at night if if need be and this might be more challenging

to find in buildings unless you’re at home obviously with the needed facilities but perhaps this might

be easier in nature because there’s less people around and present outdoors

and maybe there’s fewer but deeper more intimate connections between humans at

night so another question here to what significant extent or consciousness and energy involved with

these perceptions day and night and light and how are they involved

one way to frame experience is through consciousness and energy so what are their

importance when it comes to perceptions like this and we’ve got the classic

misperception story about mistaking a stick for a snake in

in low light so maybe either there’s fear or low light walking through

a wooded area one sees a stick but it’s they’re not being per it’s not being perceived as a

stick instead one perceives it as a snake but upon closer examination

there’s a re-perception if that’s a word a less of a misperception

in in identifying the object as a stick and not a snake

so this is more easily done when light is present when the proper

conditions are there to make more accurate and helpful

perceptions in the world then how does that play into

the purported outcome in the suta of the so-called psychic

powers but one way to perhaps practice with this portion is by holding in awareness one or

various perceptions of light and day during night in one or various perceptions of night

during day as your meditation objects for these two different time periods and i found this

interesting practicing with this the easier one i found was at night meditating on light at night

because it seems to fulfill a double role here because one is supposed to properly

grasp perception of light in the perception of day and these two go together

and then it’s recommended to develop the same features attributes and signs

by night as by day then light kind of will take care of two

birds with one stone perhaps to mix a metaphor maybe

but when it comes to the obverse of this by day developing the base of power

endowed with concentration founded on each of these iripada and the fabrications of exertion by means of the

same modes signs and themes that one uses by night that seems a little more

tricky so those examples i gave while i didn’t do this

so much one could pick any one of these examples that’s

normally found during the day and meditate on it at night and vice

versa or combinations of these or just a general sense or impression at

once then noticing some of the things that challenge and hinder this how and why

the attention gets drawn away from this and also opening to other ways obviously to approach this

and being okay with really being clueless and not really knowing exactly how to go about this so giving oneself

permission to experiment continue questioning seeking out

wisdom and advice instructions on this so at times this is kind of a stark and

sometimes intense exploration of polarity for me

realizing how different and persistent these perceptions of night and day can

be of light and the absence of light and kind of a minor question here that came

up with this is about the jhanas can there be jhanas when using

you know this by day he develops the base of power endowed with concentration founded on desire and the fabrications

of exertion by means of the same modes and signs and themes that he uses by night or the other translation immersion

due to enthusiasm and active effort with the same features attributes and signs by day is by night how can there be

jhanas using that as the meditation object since immersion and concentration are involved i don’t

know i hear some people say janus can only be developed in a specific way doing a

specific kind of method and then i hear things like jaundice can be

can be john is around anything like absorption into things that are wholesome and unwholesome

but do we mean john is like the attributes that are really often

considered with the first four genres for instance the the form jonas

or we just mean that as a generic term for absorption of immersion and

certain states of concentration that aren’t as specific and then the more practical around this

how does or would prolonged inconsistent meditation and dwelling by night as by day and by

day is by night influence those one lives with are

those who are near by and are practical measures needed with

this if so what are these practical measures and why would they be needed

and that’s the portion pertaining to the perceptions of night daytime and light

in the suta using my notes