Said the Sage Arada: "Having obtained this ecstatic contemplation the childish mind is carried away by the possession of the new unknown ecstasy . . . he reaches the world of Brahma deceived by the delight. But the wise man, knowing that these thoughts bewilder the mind, reaches a stage of contemplation separate from this, which has its own pleasure and ecstasy. And he who carried away by this pleasure sees no further distinction, obtains a dwelling full of light, even amongst the Abhasura deities. But he who separates his mind from this pleasure and ecstasy, reaches the third stage of contemplation ecstatic but without pleasure. Upon this stage some teachers make their stand, thinking that it is indeed liberation, since pleasure and pain have been left behind and there is no exercise of the intellect. But he who, immersed in this ecstasy, strives not for a further distinction, obtains an ecstasy in common with the Subhakritsna deities. But he who, having attained such a bliss desires it not but despises it, obtains the fourth stage of contemplation which is separate from all pleasure and pain. But rising beyond this contemplation, having seen the imperfections of all embodied souls, the wise man climbs to a yet higher wisdom in order to abolish all body."--Asvaghosha: The Buddha Karita
-- Notebooks Category 23: Advanced Contemplation > Chapter 7 : Contemplative Stillness > # 295
