user24518: I'm still learning the Suttas to apply The Buddha's teachings to my life. I haven't read much about the jhanas (which I think the below is related to) so I ask.

What does it mean when The Buddha says "signless of the heart?"
How does this relate to nothingness or immersion of the heart?
What are "signs?"

Thank you.
SN 40.9 “They speak of this thing called the ‘signless immersion of the heart’. What is the signless immersion of the heart? It occurred to me: ‘It’s when a mendicant, not focusing on any signs, enters and remains in the signless immersion of the heart. This is called the signless immersion of the heart.’ (Excerpt) https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn40/sn40.009.wlsh.html
41.7 And what is the release of the heart through emptiness? It’s when a mendicant has gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, and reflects like this: ‘This is empty of a self or what belongs to a self.’ This is called the release of the heart through emptiness.
And what is the signless heart’s release? It’s when a mendicant, not focusing on any signs, enters and remains in the signless immersion of the heart. This is called the signless release of the heart.(Excerpt) https://suttacentral.net/sn41.7/en/sujato?layout=plain&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin

user14872: Following audio explains the meditation on Cūḷasuññatasutta where animitta cetosamadhi (signless/themeless concentration) is explained at 45:40.
https://visuddhimagga.info/download.php?file=https://anaalaya.blob.core.windows.net/dhamma2019/M_E_CulaSunnataSutta_16_07_2019.mp3
Once you reach seventh jhana concentration (plane of nothingness) and if you are successful in understanding the impermanence of perception, then you can reach signless immersion of the heart (aka liberation due to wisdom - no sign of permanence). When you understand the perception to be void of self, you can reach release of the heart through emptiness. And when you understand perception is suffering then you reach the desireless abiding.
In Cūḷasuññatasutta the Buddha explains even these liberations are constructed, impermanent and subjected to cessation.

‘Even this signless immersion of the heart is produced by choices and
intentions.’ They understand: ‘But whatever is produced by choices and
intentions is impermanent and liable to cessation.’ Knowing and seeing
like this, their mind is freed from the defilements of sensuality,
desire to be reborn, and ignorance. When they’re freed, they know
they’re freed.

Therefore, Nibbana is where our aim should be. And for that, the practice or the development you need is the Noble Eight Fold Path.

24518: <p>I'm still learning the Suttas to apply The Buddha's teachings to my life. I haven't read much about the jhanas (which I think the below is related to) so I ask.</p>
<ol>
<li>What does it mean when The Buddha says &quot;signless of the heart?&quot;</li>
<li>How does this relate to nothingness or immersion of the heart?</li>
<li>What are &quot;signs?&quot;</li>
</ol>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>SN 40.9 “They speak of this thing called the ‘signless immersion of the heart’. What is the signless immersion of the heart? It occurred to me: ‘It’s when a mendicant, not focusing on any signs, enters and remains in the signless immersion of the heart. This is called the signless immersion of the heart.’ (Excerpt) <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn40/sn40.009.wlsh.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn40/sn40.009.wlsh.html</a></p>
<p>41.7 And what is the release of the heart through emptiness? It’s when a mendicant has gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, and reflects like this: ‘This is empty of a self or what belongs to a self.’ This is called the release of the heart through emptiness.</p>
<p>And what is the signless heart’s release? It’s when a mendicant, not focusing on any signs, enters and remains in the signless immersion of the heart. This is called the signless release of the heart.(Excerpt) <a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn41.7/en/sujato?layout=plain&amp;reference=none&amp;notes=asterisk&amp;highlight=false&amp;script=latin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://suttacentral.net/sn41.7/en/sujato?layout=plain&amp;reference=none&amp;notes=asterisk&amp;highlight=false&amp;script=latin</a></p>
 14872: <p>Following <a href="https://visuddhimagga.info/download.php?file=https://anaalaya.blob.core.windows.net/dhamma2019/M_E_CulaSunnataSutta_16_07_2019.mp3" rel="nofollow noreferrer">audio</a> explains the meditation on <a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn121/en/sujato?layout=plain&amp;reference=none&amp;notes=asterisk&amp;highlight=false&amp;script=latin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Cūḷasuññatasutta</a> where animitta cetosamadhi (signless/themeless concentration) is explained at 45:40.</p>
<p><a href="https://visuddhimagga.info/download.php?file=https://anaalaya.blob.core.windows.net/dhamma2019/M_E_CulaSunnataSutta_16_07_2019.mp3" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://visuddhimagga.info/download.php?file=https://anaalaya.blob.core.windows.net/dhamma2019/M_E_CulaSunnataSutta_16_07_2019.mp3</a></p>
<p>Once you reach seventh jhana concentration (plane of nothingness) and if you are successful in understanding the impermanence of perception, then you can reach signless immersion of the heart (aka liberation due to wisdom - no sign of permanence). When you understand the perception to be void of self, you can reach release of the heart through emptiness. And when you understand perception is suffering then you reach the desireless abiding.</p>
<p>In <a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn121/en/sujato?layout=plain&amp;reference=none&amp;notes=asterisk&amp;highlight=false&amp;script=latin" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Cūḷasuññatasutta</a> the Buddha explains even these liberations are constructed, impermanent and subjected to cessation.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>‘Even this signless immersion of the heart is produced by choices and
intentions.’ They understand: ‘But whatever is produced by choices and
intentions is impermanent and liable to cessation.’ Knowing and seeing
like this, their mind is freed from the defilements of sensuality,
desire to be reborn, and ignorance. When they’re freed, they know
they’re freed.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Therefore, Nibbana is where our aim should be. And for that, the practice or the development you need is the Noble Eight Fold Path.</p>
