it has been said: 'He who is concentrated knows, sees according to the truth.' It is distinguished by having ease (sukha) (usually) as a proximate cause. Like the steadiness of a lamp in the absence of wind, so should steadfastness of mind be understood. Ajahn Sucitto further explains: This is the factor of absorption that arises dependent on bringing to mind, non-involvement and evaluation. It occurs in meditation when the quality of ease has calmed rapture and the mental energy; the energy of focusing and the bodily energy are in harmony. The resultant merging of mind and body is experienced as a firmness in awareness, which is hence not penetrated by sense-impressions. Yet, Richard Shankman notes that ekaggata also means "unification of mind," in which mind becomes very still but does not merge with the object of attention, and is thus able to observe and gain insight into the changing flow of experience. See also Arupajhana Buddhist meditation Jhana Five Hindrances Mental factors (Buddhism) Samadhi (Buddhism) References Sources Nina van Gorkom (2010), Cetasikas, Zolag //links broken External links van Gorkom Buddhist meditation Mental factors in Buddhism