The Meaning of Awakening and Contemplation

The mind consciousness before attaining the first dhyāna has initial application and sustained examination (vitarka-vicāra); between the first and second dhyāna there is no initial application but sustained examination remains; from the second dhyāna upward there is neither initial application nor sustained examination. Initial application means being aware of the state of meditative absorption, accompanied by mental activity of deliberation. Sustained examination is akin to illumination—there is no deliberative or analytical activity of the mind consciousness; the mind consciousness does not stir, yet there remains a passive knowing. From the second dhyāna upward, the five sense consciousnesses have ceased, but the mind consciousness has not ceased; there is an extremely subtle knowing, yet without the power of introspection (pratyavekṣā-bala)—it does not know that it itself has knowing, as if everything had ceased.