| | | Ananda Bodhi Tree, Savathi |

Practice always as if in equanimity, or rather practice to develop a specific neutrality towards all phenomena regardless of the overall feeling theme dominating the moment. The mastered 11th nana / 4th jhana is defined by such specific neutrality (not wanting the disappearance nor wanting the continuation of phenomena); a clear calm wide curious recognition of exactly what is occuring in the very moment; coupled with an 'equanimous feeling'.
The equanimous feeling may not be present in the other nanas. But it finds its foothold in the 11th nana/4th jhana . And when an equanimous specific neutrality is purified by such equanimous feeling, equanimity towards the formations/ fabrications of mind and body truly establishes itself and matures.

Sometimes the 11th nana/4th jhana has the equanimous feeling but a lack of specific neutrality towards all formations/ fabrications and this could lead to stagnation and regress. Perhaps there is attachment and clinging to the equanimous feeling. This means there is a lack of the vital ingredient for cessation, ie specific neutrality.

Develop specific neutrality, a recognition that does not conceive of anything from phenomena, including the conceiving of the reaction of 'aversion' or 'craving' , which is cause for the stagnation. Develop specific neutrality to it all, towards the subtle stuff of high equanimity, space, wandering movements, anticipation, boredom, nothingness, sense of me-ness, being, time, presence, towards the equanimous feeling. Develop specific neutrality towards it all, including the desire to get somewhere . It is giving up this desire at the right moment which opens the door. Developing specific neutrality as an actual mental muscle/skill at any stage regardless of the accompanying pleasant, unpleasant, neutral feelings and one develops and sets up (allows to mature) the vital cause for cessation of it all when equanimous feeling arises. It is called equanimity of formations for a reason. If just one formation is clung to, then what cessation will there be? One must cultivate dispassion for all formations, and specific neutrality is key to this.

Nick, the distinction between equanimous feeling and specific neutrality is interesting. Let me see if I'm getting what you are saying:
equanimous feeling is just neutral/peaceful vedana. specific neutrality is a cognitive quality of not objectifying phenomena at all, of not characterising them as 'this' or 'that'? A cognitive openness that registers phenomena rising and passing without overlaying them with expectations/concepts?

Yes, that is exactly what i mean. Though if there is recognition of 'expectations/concepts', they too are seen to arise and pass unfueled and untinged by grasping at an outcome via specific neutrality. There may still be conceiving arising and passing due to strong habitual patterns to do so, but at least it is recognised via specific neutrality and the cause and effect of not giving more fuel to the act of conceiving can present as some serious insight. When done with momentum, ultimately yes, there will be less and less conceiving as a result. When there is no more conceiving of even the most refined formations/fabrications, then cessation has occured. The stilling of all formations/ fabrications.

The experience of 'equanimity (the compounding of an equanimous mental overlay/ thoughts/ mind stuff and equanimous neutral feeling tones) is a fabrication/formation itself. Adding specific neutrality to the mix leads to letting go of it as well leading to cessation/stilling of all formations in my experience. Applying specific neutrality at any stage and nana is good practice as i see it. Applying the three perceptions in my experience leads to specific neutrality.

Credit to Tarin

"assuming a norm about the level of phenomenology is to be confused by content. it is content which 'pulls' the attention, because the attention isn't paying attention and so there is the (also content) assumption that it is happening on the level of insight. equanimity doesn't have to be fabricated because it really doesn't matter. I'm talking about the cause of equanimity. the causeless cause; the unfabricated cause. the whole body means the whole formation. not the assumption of what sensations out of the formation are taken to be body. understand what i'm saying

4th jhana is whatever equanimity shines through. The equanimity which purifies the mindfulness is not neutral feeling, as might be supposed, but specific neutrality, the sublime impartiality free from attachment and aversion, which also pertains to this jhana. Though both specific neutrality and mindfulness were present in the lower three jhanas, none among these is said to have "purity of mindfulness due to equanimity." The reason is that in the lower jhanas the equanimity present was not purified itself, being overshadowed by opposing states and lacking association with equanimous feeling. It is like a crescent moon which exists by day but cannot be seen because of the sunlight and the bright sky. But in the fourth jhana, where equanimity gains the support of equanimous feeling, it shines forth like the crescent moon at night and purifies mindfulness and the other associated states.'

'The equanimity which purifies the mindfulness is not neutral feeling, as might be supposed, but specific neutrality, the sublime impartiality free from attachment and aversion, ...'
not a feeling. not a feature of the field. not content. equanimity is insight." Tarin