Dear Dimitri,
Thank you for your post. The text of the Vis. about the sign, nimitta, being
the breaking down the barriers made me think of: only by the attainment of
jhana.
As far as I understood, with upekkha brahmavihara the fifth stage of jhana
can be attained. Not with metta and the other brahmaviharas, because these
can be accompanied by pleasant feeling. For now I let this difficult subject
rest.
You side remark: see below. A good one, I find, for myself to reflect on.
op 08-02-2003 13:53 schreef Äìèòðèé Àëåêñååâè÷ Èâàõíåíêî (Dimitry A.
Ivakhnenko) op koleso@...:

>
>
> As a side note, I would differentiate metta from always being nice and
> gentle. It also be expressed in blunt expression of opinion and energetic
> action.

Nina: It depends on the mettaacitta at that moment, Dimitri. So difficult to
know, because cittas are so fast. We can only verify for ourselves: is there
some clinging to the importance of self, even very subtle? What about being
bold, energetic and also gentle? When mettaacitta arises it takes care, we
do not have to do anything, then it is not difficult to be gentle in speech.
We also have to speak at the right time, and that may be difficult. The
Buddha had such great compassion, he knew so well what was the right time to
speak. He could speak strongly, but always with the greatest compassion.

>

D: Here 'unconditional' means 'not having a criterion (of preference)'.

> As Piya Tan recently wrote,
>> The Mahaavedalla Sutta (M 1:298/43.35) has a very interesting and beautiful
>> statement in connection with "pamaa.na":
>> raago...doso...moho pamaa.nakara.no
>
> Lust, hate and delusion are producing criterions (of preference).

Nina: In jhana lobha, dosa and moha are temporarily subdued, no criterion.
By vipassana they are eradicated: never anymore criterion. No conceit is in
the way, perfect self-effacement.
Nina