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KARMA IN THE WORLD OF THE FORMLESS • Even in the world of the formless there is the existence of Karma but as has been already noted it is only Kušala or good Karma, for beyond the Kämadhātu, there is no scope for Akušala Karma at all. It is important to note that transition from Rūpadhātu to Arúpadhātu is possible only in the highest state of perfection of the Rūpadhatu. The fit meditation of the Rapadhātu is associated with only two properties namely upekşă (indifference ) and ekāgrată ( concentration ). It is only a Yogi who has attained to the high level connected with the fifth rūpa i. e. form of meditation and successfully try to rise above the world of forms into the world of the formless. On completion of the fifth meditation of the Rupadhātu, a yogi begins to feel that the physical troubles are due to the existence of the physical body. At such a moment he becomes indifferent to the plane of rūpadhātu. At this moment his mind begins to soar into the heights of the formless. It is infiniteiy wide. In this stage the pratibhāganimitta ( ularnefHT ) referred to above is transcended by him and he becomes inattentive to the contact of the senses with their objects. He meditates only on the infinite sky or sūnya (Akāśāyatana). For success in this meditation it is essential to meditate on the karuņā - aspect of the Rūpadhátu. This meditation helps to liberate the mind from the knot of ego. In order to remove the suffering of others in the mind which is merged in the meditation of the formless, there is no room for ego. In this meditation the eternal void which is formless takes hold of the mind. It must be remembered that the citta or the mind is Kušala. After this but before the second meditation on the infinity of the consciousness, it is necessary to strengthen the mind through the muditā? meditation. In this state of meditation the mind rests on the infinity of consciousness or vijñāna but after this, even this vijñana disappears from the consciousness in which nothing is left behind neither void nor consciousness. This is called Akiñcajy.. Ayatana. It is a state of calm and tranquility. After 1. Abhidhammatha Samgaha, V 2. Abhidhammatha Sapagha, IX.
