Episode Details

‘‘Monks, there are these four developments of concentration. Which four? Monks, there is a development of concentration, developed and frequently practiced, that leads to a pleasant abiding in this very life;

Monks, there is a development of concentration, developed and frequently practiced, that leads to the acquisition of knowledge and vision;

Monks, there is a development of concentration, developed and frequently practiced, that leads to mindfulness and clear comprehension;

Monks, there is a development of concentration, developed and frequently practiced, that leads to the destruction of the taints (āsavas).

"And what, monks, is the development of concentration, developed and frequently practiced, that leads to a pleasant abiding in this very life? Here, monks, a bhikkhu, secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, enters and dwells in the first jhāna, which is accompanied by vitakka and vicāra, and has rapture and pleasure born of seclusion. With the subsiding of vitakka and vicāra, with the internal assurance and unification of mind, he enters and dwells in the second jhāna, which is without vitakka and vicāra, and has rapture and pleasure born of concentration. With the fading away of rapture, he dwells in equanimity, mindful and clearly comprehending, and he experiences pleasure with the body; he enters and dwells in the third jhāna, concerning which the Noble Ones declare: ‘He is equanimous, mindful, and dwells happily.’ With the abandoning of pleasure and pain, and with the previous disappearance of joy and grief, he enters and dwells in the fourth jhāna, which is neither painful nor pleasant, and is purified by equanimity and mindfulness. This, monks, is the development of concentration, developed and frequently practiced, that leads to a pleasant abiding in this very life.

"And what, monks, is the development of concentration, developed and frequently practiced, that leads to the acquisition of knowledge and vision? Here, monks, a bhikkhu attends to the perception of light, he fixes his mind on the perception of day – as it is by day, so it is by night; as it is by night, so it is by day. Thus, with an open and unclouded mind, he cultivates a mind endowed with radiance. This, monks, is the development of concentration, developed and frequently practiced, that leads to the acquisition of knowledge and vision.

"And what, monks, is the development of concentration, developed and frequently practiced, that leads to mindfulness and clear comprehension? Here, monks, for a bhikkhu, feelings arise known, they persist known, they cease known; perceptions… thoughts arise known, they persist known, they cease known. This, monks, is the development of concentration, developed and frequently practiced, that leads to mindfulness and clear comprehension.

"And what, monks, is the development of concentration, developed and frequently practiced, that leads to the destruction of the taints? Here, monks, a bhikkhu abides contemplating the rise and fall in the five aggregates of clinging (upādānakkhandhas) thus: ‘Such is form, such is the origin of form, such is the cessation of form; such is feeling, such is the origin of feeling, such is the cessation of feeling; such is perception, such is the origin of perception, such is the cessation of perception; such are volitional formations, such is the origin of volitional formations, such is the cessation of volitional formations; such is consciousness, such is the origin of consciousness, such is the cessation of consciousness.’ This, monks, is the development of concentration, developed and frequently practiced, that leads to the destruction of the taints.

These, monks, are the four developments of concentration.

The Buddha's words

Samādhibhāvanāsutta from Tipitaka Pali Reader