nam mkha' che ba sems kyi rgyud

infinite/limitless space [IW]

Infinite Space; one of skye mched mu bzhi gzugs med pa'i khams bzhi [RY]

Infinite Space. The first abode in the Formless Realm dwelling on the thought, "Space is infinite!" [RY]

Discussion

The first of the four Formless absorptions. The name comes from the training that produces it: a meditator on the fourth dhyana enters the preparation for Infinite Space and considers that the conception of Form is coarse and must be abandoned--there is only infinite space. Once the actual Formless absorption is attained, it does not necessarily dwell on such thoughts--at that point it may take any element of dharma as its focus. DKC