15.10 Of Trance as a Means of reaching the Unconscious Sphere

Controverted Point: That trance conduces to rebirth in the unconscious sphere.

Theravādin: Can you say of anyone who has attained to trance that in his character are the three moral conditions—absence of greed, of hate, of dullness, also faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, and understanding? Is not the contrary usually the case? … .

You admit of course that one in trance is without mental reaction, feeling, perception, volition, cognition? But you cannot maintain that a Path can be practised in the absence of these.

Finally, your proposition implies that all who attain to trance are tending to rebirth in the Unconscious Sphere—which you must deny … .

Hetuvādin: But you admit, anyway, that in trance one is unconscious, and in that sphere one is unconscious. Hence I maintain that this tendency is a fact.