Formless are the
Fruits of the 4 Infinite States:
The Blessed Buddha once pointed out some
fine future fruits:
The release of mind by
universal friendliness developed,
when linked with
the
7 links to Enlightenment, has the
beautiful liberation as culmination!
The release of mind by
compassionate pity developed,
when all joined with
the
7 links to Enlightenment,
has the infinitude of space,
as culmination!
This is the 1st formless absorption.
The release of mind by
altruistic
and mutual joy
developed, when all linked
with the
7 links to Enlightenment, has
the infinitude of consciousness,
as its ultimate culmination...
This is the 2nd formless absorption..
The release of mind by
imperturbable equanimity
developed and combined
with the
7 links to Enlightenment,
has the void sphere of nothingness, as its
absolute culmination... This is the 3rd formless absorption.
So do these 4 divine and infinite states of
friendliness,
pity,
mutual joy
and
equanimity,
when cultivated fused together with the
7 links to Enlightenment:
Awareness,
Investigation,
Energy,
Joy,
Tranquillity,
Concentration
and finally
Equanimity,
lead to entry, and absorption
into these 4 sublime and formless
mental dimensions of exquisitely subtle supra-mundane consciousness...
