The Fourth Dhyana
“Furthermore, Ananda, there are gods whose bodies and minds are no longer subject to impulsion, compulsion, and oppression – internal and external forces of all kinds, because they have ceased to create the causes for such afflictions. And they realize that even the bliss of the heavens is not permanent, that it will eventually come to decay. Thus, they renounce both suffering and bliss simultaneously. All kinds of coarse and weighty mental attributes vanish instantaneously, the essence of pure blessings appears. Such beings are in the Heaven of Blessings Created.
“Further up there are gods whose renunciation of mental attributes is so complete that they gain a superior understanding and perfect purity. In this state of unimpeded bliss, they experience a wondrous ease and harmony that extends to the boundless future. Such beings are in the Heaven of Blessings Cherished.
“And further up, the path divides into two. One is called the Heaven of All Fruition, which is for the gods who previously have been able to generate infinite pure light, who have perfected their blessing and merit, and whose cultivation and verification are well secured. The other is called the Heaven of No Thought, which is for the gods who previously have been so intensely focusing on renunciation of both suffering and bliss, that their practice of renunciation has been unrelentingly intensified to such a total completion that their bodies and minds become extinct, and for five hundred eons their cognition remains as deathly still as cold ashes. Since their practice is based on birth and nonbirth, they are unable to uncover the true nature which neither comes into being nor ceases to be. Therefore, during the first half of their dwelling, they undergo cessation; during the second half, however, they come into being again.
“Ananda, in these four superior heavens, all beings are no longer moved by any worldly affliction or bliss. Although it is not yet truly the unconditioned state of Non-Moving – since they still have the notion of attainment – their spiritual practice is nonetheless advanced and perfected. This is called the Fourth Dhyana.”
阿難次復天人。不逼身心苦因已盡。樂非常住久必壞生。苦樂二心俱時頓捨。麁重相滅淨福性生。如是一類名福生天。捨心圓融勝解清淨。福無遮中得妙隨順窮未來際。如是一類名福愛天。阿難從是天中有二岐路。若於先心無量淨光。福德圓明修證而住。如是一類名廣果天。若於先心雙厭苦樂。精研捨心相續不斷。圓窮捨道身心俱滅。心慮灰凝經五百劫。是人既以生滅為因。不能發明不生滅性。初半劫滅後半劫生。如是一類名無想天。阿難此四勝流一切世間。諸苦樂境所不能動。雖非無為真不動地。有所得心功用純熟名為四禪。
Buddha Mind 