Someone asked about the results of meditation practice: when one sees the bright, clear sphere of Dhamma and reaches the "First Sphere of the Path," then progresses to seeing body within body -- the refined human body, the celestial body, the Brahma body, up to the Dhamma body -- what exactly is the First Sphere of the Path, and how does it affect the practitioner?

The Path Before Reaching the First Sphere of the Path

The entire path of practice relies on being mindfully aware -- wherever we focus, the mind settles there. When the sphere of knowing, mindfulness, is established, it draws in pure energy to drive the system of wholesomeness, refining the inner elements toward purity. This depends on wholesome mind and mental factors -- mindfulness, faith, moral shame and moral fear, non-greed, non-aversion, and crucially, the mental factor of equipoise (tatramajjhattata), which keeps the mind from being shaken by internal or external stimuli. These mental factors draw in merit that calms the body and mind (tranquility), lightens the body and mind (buoyancy), softens the body and mind, and readies the body and mind for the work at hand -- gradually gathering purity into a bright sphere.

The Process of Reaching the First Sphere of the Path

As continuous mindful observation proceeds, the bright sphere gradually settles at the center of the body. When the sphere of light (the acquired image) unites with the inner sphere of Dhamma, a "dropping into the center" occurs, leading into full absorption (appana samadhi) -- this is precisely what it means to reach the First Sphere of the Path.

How Does the First Sphere of the Path Affect the Practitioner?

Once reached, the First Sphere of the Path automatically refines the mind toward purity. This purity is then passed on in stages -- to the sphere of morality, the sphere of concentration, the sphere of wisdom, the sphere of liberation, and the sphere of the knowledge and vision of liberation, in sequence -- without the practitioner needing to do anything further, simply remaining still and undistracted within the brightness. Everything unfolds automatically, carrying purity and refinement onward to the refined human body, the celestial body, and the Brahma body in turn.

Some people pass through quickly -- within 15 minutes moving through all 18 bodies -- while others may remain stuck for a year or more, especially at the celestial body or the form-Brahma body, because their foundation of purifying defilements is not yet developed.

Signals Used for Mindful Observation, and the Basis of Insight

Mindful observation relies on a "signal" for mindfulness to rest upon. Some signals are naturally automatic, like the breath or heartbeat; others are ones we construct ourselves, like a meditation mantra or visualized object. There is also the inner voice and inner feeling that the various natural forces use to guide and anchor the mind -- understanding this becomes the foundation of insight meditation. Both calm and insight need to be learned together, so as to fully experience the flavor of each sphere with knowledge joined to happiness and purity -- rather than rushing single-mindedly toward the final goal and growing weary from not yet arriving.

Both Good and Bad Experiences During Practice Come from Defilement

During mindful observation, both good and bad experiences may arise. The Buddha taught us not to be pleased or displeased by either. Bad experiences arise from the defilements still present -- this is entirely normal, just as learning anything new requires working through difficulty before becoming skillful. We cannot reject or avoid it; our only task is to keep observing continuously, so that the sphere of knowing draws in pure energy to gradually cleanse the defilement, until good experiences gradually take its place. Those who reject the practice or give up because of a bad experience only accumulate more defilement, making the path harder still.