Below is a map of 20 major strata of mind. Each of these strata or layers of consciousness has its own unique set of characteristics. One of the interesting things about this way of seeing the mind is that it is based on ancient maps from the Theravada school of Buddhism. I've synthesized two maps here, the map of the Insight Knowledges (ñanas) from the Vissudimagga and the map of the 31 Realms of Existence (http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html).

Notice that the strata of mind are presented here in reverse order, with number one at the bottom. I've done it this way in order to illustrate what I think of as the "jhanic arc." While meditating, it's possible to access each of these strata of mind in turn, beginning with the first, proceeding to the second, then the third, etc. This happens naturally when you observe what is happening in the mind/body without manipulating it. When you reach the highest stratum that is available to you (this depends on the individual and is one metric for jhanic attainment), you begin to descend the jhanic arc. At this point, you revisit all the strata of mind that you encountered on the way up. For example, if you have four jhanas, your jhanic arc will look like this: 1,2,3,4,3,2,1. As one Malaysian jhana master pointed out to me, "It's a palindrome. It looks the same, backwards or forwards." If you continue to sit once the lowest stratum of mind has reappeared, the jhanic arc will begin again and repeat itself indefinitely. Progress is made over time as you gradually uncover more strata. If for example, the "cutting edge" of your practice is the fourth stratum, with continued practice you will uncover the fifth, which will then be your new cutting edge. You will eventually access, penetrate, and stabilize in the sixth, etc. When all of the 20 strata of mind have been developed, you can access all of them in each sitting. (Primordial awareness, the empty, cognizant essence and ground of all reality, is not a stratum of mind and cannot be taken as object. It is revealed by surrender, at any stage of development. Notice it now.)

20: 5th Suddavasa Jhana
19: 4th Suddavasa Jhana
18: 3rd Suddavasa Jhana
17: 2nd Suddavasa Jhana
16: 1st Suddavasa Jhana
15: Jhana of Neither Perception nor Non-perception
14: Jhana of No-thingness
13: Jhana of Infinite Consciousness
12. Jhana of Infinite Space
11: ñana: Equanimity (corresponds to 4th Material Jhana)
10: ñana: Re-observation
9. ñana: Desire for Deliverance
8. ñana: Disgust
7. ñana: Misery
6. ñana: Fear
5. ñana: Dissolution (corresponds to 3rd Material Jhana)
4. ñana: Arising and Passing (corresponds to 2nd Material Jhana)
3. ñana: Three Characteristics
2. ñana: Cause and Effect
1. ñana: Mind and Body (corresponds to 1st Material Jhana)

Kenneth Folk 2009