The Five Attainments of Meditation Practice

Occasionally I come across a piece of writing so pure and resonant that I simply want to share it—and say as little as possible. This is one such case. Written in China during the Han Dynasty, it’s one of the most straightforward guides I’ve found on training the mind—an aim of meditation—and on how this training manifests in everyday life. Enjoy.

Therefore, when the mind is not worried or overjoyed, virtue is attained.
When it is fluid and does not waver, security is attained.
When desires and cravings are not pursued, emptiness* is attained.
When there is no like or dislike, inner peace is attained.
When there is no division with regard to things, purity is attained.
 
Those who are able to attain these five are pervaded by spirit light.
Those pervaded by spirit light will realize themselves fully within.
From there, they use their inner center to control things outside, and do not abort the various affairs.
If they can realize it within, they can also attain it on the outside.

Huainanzi (Huainan Honglie)
Yuandao Chapter [#1]
139 BCE

* Spaciousness or openness, i.e., emptiness of self