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Nine Stages of Mental Development

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  1. Stabilize the mind in the Power of listening.
  2. Continuous stabilization.
  3. Re-stabilization.
  4. Maintain stabilization.
  5. Discipline.
  6. Pacification.
  7. Complete pacification.
  8. Concentration focused on one point.
  9. Mental equanimity.
  1. Power of contemplation.
  2. Power of attention.
  3. Power of vigilance.
  4. Power of enthusiasm.
  5. Power of familiarity.
  1. Attention.
  2. Vigilance.
  3. Mental laxity (The black color of the elephant).
  4. The mind.
  5. The intensity of the fire represents the force necessary to apply vigilance and attention.
  6. Dispersal.
  7. Agitation (The black color of the monkey).
  8. The six curves of the path represent the six powers.
  9. Objects from the world of desire that distract and excite the mind.
  10. Development of clarity and stability.
  11. Recognition of the slightest presence of subtle and gross mental laxity.
  12. Subtle mental laxity.
  13. Attention being refocused on the object after the presence of distraction has been detected.
  14. The intensity of the agitation decreases.
  15. By the power of vigilance, the mind is firmly stabilized in concentration.
  16. With minimal attention and vigilance the mind remains in concentration.
  17. Physical flexibility.
  18. Mental flexibility.
  19. Achievement of permanent calm.
  20. Attention and vigilance actively seek vision.
  21. The union of permanent calm and the special understanding that takes emptiness as its object cuts through the roots of the World.

Shamatha, which means calm, is the practice of meditation to develop the ability to focus the mind in single-pointed concentration. This is practiced as a pre-requisite for mindfulness or insight meditations. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition this practices is described as a nine stage progression beautifully depicted in this thangka showing a monk chasing and finally capturing an elephant. The elephant is being led by a monkey. The monkey represents distractions. How well we know this scenario! This is ordinary mind or conventional mind mired in the Babylon Matrix (Jonathan Zap). But through study of the writings of Wisdom Teachers and mediation practice, the monk is able to capture and subdue the elephant. Gradually both the monkey and the elephant turn white representing the meditator’s ability to maintain the power of concentration.

Stages three and four represents the meditator’s ability to fix and hold his or her concentration steady. The meditator has lassoed the elephant and gradually the monkey, elephant and even a rabbit turn and look at the meditator to indicate that distractions acknowledge who is in charge.

In stages five and six the meditator begins to lead the elephant and the monkey of distraction follows the mind rather than leading it. The mind is controlled; the meditator uses a goad to discipline the elephant. The rabbit disappears and the mind is finally pacified.

In the seventh stage the monkey leaves the elephant and stands behind the meditator and pays homage.  In stage eight the meditator is in complete control. Single-pointed concentration is achieved.

The ninth is the stage of mental absorption. Perfect equanimity is found and the path has ended. The elephant rests beside the meditator who sits at ease. Now out of the meditator’s heart streams a rainbow like ray.

Stages ten and eleven represent crossing over into mental bliss. The meditator rides the elephant along the rainbow path into the perfection of the transcendent realm and returns bearing the sword of Wisdom. Samsara’s root is severed by the union of shamatha and vipashyana or insight meditation with emptiness as the object of contemplation. Aware of pure awareness, the meditator is now equipped with Compassion and Wisdom to guide others on the path to enlightenment.

The Nine Stages of Mental Development.
Samatha ("calm," "serenity," "tranquillity of awareness,") and vipassana (literally "special, super (vi-), seeing (-passana)", are two qualities of the mind developed in tandem in Buddhist practice.

  • According to Thrangu Rinpoche, when samatha and vipasyana are combined, through samatha disturbing emotions are abandoned, which thus facilitates vipasyana, "clear seeing". Vipasyana is cultivated through reasoning, logic, and analysis in conjunction with samatha.
  • See more at Samatha-vipassana - Wikipedia.

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Location

Location: Ralong Rd, Ravangla, Sikkim 737139, India