Strata of mind question.

When moving up the ladder on the strata of mind, is what's actually happening more like a process of uncovering something subtile which was already there but it was obscured by the previous more course strata, or, is it more like coming upon something new which is taking forum in each strata? To get to the next strata is something added or subtracted? It helps me to think in terms of examples; which of these examples best describes going up the ladder (of if you have better examples please provide them)

A process of stilling/calming?
e.g. Like taking a sealed glass of water off of a paint shaker, then shaking it in your hand, then holding it steady in your hand, then placing it on the floor where it's totally steady...

A process of transition (or a process of learning to use momentum)?
e.g. Like riding a tricycle, then transitioning to a bike with training wheels, then transitioning to a bike without training wheels...

A process of uncovering?
e.g. Like overlays in an anotomy textbook: removing one layer then reveals something that was already there but not clearly visible because it was obscured...

It's your 3rd option, Mark: "removing one layer then reveals something that was already there but not clearly visible because it was obscured..."

Everything is already here. Subtle things tend to be obscured by grosser things.

Kenneth

Thanks! That's exactly how it feels for me in experience, glad to know I am on the right track. I can see why cmarti likes Ockham's razor.

It took me awhile to catch on, but Strata of mind is a very helpful teaching. I always hear other people trying to teach the Jhanic arc saying "the second jhana is beyond the first jhana" and I'm like ??? -To me the second jhana feels like it's *before* the first jhana not beyond it; seems like you gotta walk backwards to get up the hill.