Sallekha (Effacement) Sutta 

"It is possible here, Cunda, that quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, some disciple enters upon and abides in the first jhana, which is accompanied by applied and sustained thought, with rapture and pleasure born of seclusion. He might think thus: "I am abiding in effacement." But it is not these attainments that are called 'effacement' in the Noble One's Discipline: these are called 'pleasant abidings here and now' in the Noble One's Discipline." 

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... "It is possible here that by completely surmounting the base of nothingness, some disciple enters upon and abides in the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception. She might think thus: 'I am abiding in effacement.' But these attainments are not called 'effacement' in the Noble One's Discipline: these are called 'peaceful abidings' in the Noble One's Discipline." 

The Buddha. Sallekha [effacement] Sutta: MN:8 

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To my reckoning, the Effacement Sutta is one of the most important in the entire Pali Canon. In it the Buddha speaks of the first four meditative absorptions as 'pleasant abidings in the here and now' and the last four as 'peaceful abidings'. He clearly makes the distinction between these meditative absorptions and the ultimate goal of his Discipline, which is the total eradication of suffering through the effacement of greed, hatred and delusion. So often, sitting in meditation is taught as the way to achieve enlightenment. There is no doubt that it is an important part of the process, but many times we are led to believe that it is the path in and of itself. The Pali word Bhavana, meaning mind cultivation, is usually translated into English as meditation. In the Effacement Sutta, the Buddha explains that meditative absorption, even the most extreme attainment, is not to be confused with enlightenment. Enlightenment is the eradication of all adverse mind-states --- mind states that create and reinforce the concept of duality; of self. In this sutta, not only does the Buddha point out the need for effacement, he goes on to explain how to do it. He teaches how to approach mind cultivation --- Bhavana --- in a do-able way. Ultimately, sitting in meditation can help insight to rise in the mind, but usually, before it can have a lasting effect, it needs to be presented to a mind relatively free of the inclination to duality. It is said that the Buddha spent many hours a day sitting in 'peaceful abiding', and we can too, but it is the effacement of greed hatred and delusion that will take us all the way to Awakening. The Sallekha Sutta is a valuable aid for practice and can be found online,

 it's worth a read. 

Sārani

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