Katamo ca bhikkhave samma-samadhi?

Idha bhikkhave bhikkhu vivicc'eva kamehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi, sa-vitakkam sa-vicaram vivekajam-piti-sukham pathamam jhanam upasampajja viharati.

Vitakka-vicaranam vupasama, ajjhattam sampasadanam cetaso ekodi-bhavam avitakkam avicaram, samadhijam-piti-sukham dutiyam jhanam upasampajja viharati.

Pitiya ca viraga, upekkhako ca viharati sato ca sampajano, sukhañca kayena patisamvedeti, yan-tam ariya acikkhanti upekkhako satima sukha-vihariti, tatiyam jhanam upasampajja viharati.

Sukhassa ca pahana dukkhassa ca pahana, pubbe va somanassa-domanassanam atthangama, adukkham-asukham upekkha-sati-parisuddhim, catuttham jhanam upasampajja viharati.

Ayam vuccati bhikkhave samma-samadhiti.

Katamo ca bhikkhave samma-samadhi?

And what is right concentration?

Idha bhikkhave bhikkhu vivicc'eva kamehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi, sa-vitakkam sa-vicaram vivekajam-piti-sukham pathamam jhanam upasampajja viharati.

Here, monks, a monk quite secluded from sensuality, secluded from unskillful (mental) qualities, with thinking, with examining, born-of-seclusion - rapture - happiness first jhana enters & dwells.

Thinking & examining cease, [yielding to] inward serenity having the purpose of onepointedness; no thinking, no examining, born-of-concentration - rapture - happiness second jhana enters & dwells.

Rapture fading away, equanimity [he] remains in, mindful with clear awareness, pleasure physically sensitive [to], of which Noble Ones declare "Equanimous & mindful, he has a pleasurable abiding," third jhana enters & dwells.

Pleasure is abandoned, pain is abandoned, as previously joy & grief were abandoned; no pain, no pleasure, equanimity-mindfulness-purity fourth jhana enters & dwells.

This is called, monks, right concentration.

And what, monks, is right concentration?

There is the case where a monk -- quite secluded from sensuality, secluded from unskillful (mental) qualities -- enters & remains in the first jhana: rapture & happiness born of seclusion, accompanied by thinking & examining.

With the stilling of thinking & examining, he enters & remains in the second jhana: rapture & happiness born of concentration, unification of awareness free from thinking & examining -- internal tranquility.

With the fading of rapture, he remains in equanimity, mindful & clearly aware, and physically sensitive of pleasure. He enters & remains in the third jhana, of which the Noble Ones declare, 'Equanimous & mindful, he has a pleasurable abiding.'

With the abandoning of pleasure & pain -- as with the earlier disappearance of elation & distress -- he enters & remains in the fourth jhana: purity of equanimity & mindfulness, neither pleasure nor pain.

This, monks, is called right concentration.

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Leigh Brasington / / Revised 09 Nov 22