The 'four meditations.' Four progressively subtle stages of meditation which lead one out from the desire realm into rebirth in the four meditation heavens 四禅天 in the realm of form 色界 （catur-dhya^na）. （1） In the first meditation the practitioner experiences the joy and pleasure of abandoning coarse desires 离生喜乐; （2） in the second， one dwells solely in the joy and pleasure produced by meditation 定生喜乐; （3） in the third， one attains sublime pleasure that transcends ordinary joy 离喜妙乐， and （4） in the fourth， one dwells in a state of mental stability free from various sensations of pain and pleasure 非苦非乐.