Anuruddha describes the way the Buddha went thru the 4 Jhanas, the 4 spheres, the cessation, back down to Jhana 1 and exit at Jhana 4. The Buddha is said to abandon/emerge from each jhana and each sphere and then enter , I would say “jump” into the next one up and then down.
Two remarks:
Can really someone reads the mind of someone else to that extend? My opinion is that Anuruddha presents his own interpretation of the practice and what he considers should happen to an Arahat leaving this world;
The mention of emerging form each Jhana in order to enter the next one is the proof that the two types of Jhanas that we have been arguing about a lot on this forum, were already existing at the time of the Buddha.
I guess this is what the ‘divine eye’ is all about. Take e.g. AN 3.40
But the abode of the world is vast. In the vast abode of the world there are ascetics and brahmins with psychic potency and the divine eye who know the minds of others. They see things from a distance but they are not themselves seen even when they’re close; they know the minds [of others] with their own mind.
But normally the divine eye is used for the ability to see where someone went after death
With the divine eye, which is purified and surpasses the human, he sees beings passing away and being reborn…
I guess there is no big difference between these, you’d see ‘in which mind-space someone is at’.
The reason is that as per the awakening process model found in suttas like AN9.34, AN9.38, AN9.39, AN9.40, AN9.44, and AN9.47 the non-provisory nibbana (nippariyāyenā nibbānaṃ) is to be understood as something that comes with the attainment and transcending of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception (nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṃ).
I have tried to investigate this subject further in the topic:
Thank you, Gabriel.
I still could not work our why Buddha attains Parinibbana in fourth Jhana.
Why could he not do it in say second Jhana or any of Arupavacara Jhana?
You are welcome. I am afraid I cannot answer the question why it is recorded in the Sutta the way it is. But I am interested in confirming if at least this is the case in all alternative EBT versions of the same account of events.
Are there other descriptions for the Buddha than in DN 16 and SN 6.15? If not then the Buddha’s departure from the 4th Jhana is just what we know. Sariputta’s death in SN 47.13 for example doesn’t mention any details, nor does any other description of an arahant attaining parinibbana (afaik)…
Interesting question. Perhaps related to this question is, “why did the Buddha attain enlightenment after the fourth jhana and not 7th, 8th or another jhana?”
This question could have significant ramifications. Some argue that jhana is not that important because they argue that the Buddha knew how to practice jhanas from his earlier teachers, yet he did not awaken from those teachings. However, those earlier teachers only taught the 7th and 8th jhanas I seem to recall. Also, I don’t recall any mention in the EBTs of the Buddha practicing the 1, 2, 3, or 4th jhana with his earlier teachers.
Thus, the fourth jhana may have special significance as it seems to be the last jhana the Buddha practiced leading up to his enlightenment and also the last jhana leading to his parinibbana.
Another question arises: “Is fourth jhana necessary for complete enlightenment?”
