Connected Discourses on Meditation

1. Attainment in relation to Concentration

1At Sāvatthī. “Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of meditators. What four? [264]

2“Here, bhikkhus, a meditator is skilled in concentration regarding concentration but not skilled in attainment regarding concentration.²⁹⁸ Spk: Skilled in concentration (samādhikusala): skilled in determining the factors thus, “The first jhāna has five factors, the second three factors,” etc. But not skilled in attainment regarding concentration (na samādhismiṁ samāpattikusala): though he makes the mind pliant by gladdening it [Spk-pṭ: by removing the opposed states and collecting the cooperative causes], he is unable to attain the jhāna. Mp III 354, on samāpattikusala: “Having collected suitable food and climate, he is skilled in attaining concentration—adroit, capable, and adept at it.”
I doubt these explanations capture the intended meaning and think it more likely skill in attainment is synonymous with the “mastery in attainment” (samāpattivasī) described at Paṭis I 100 thus: “He attains the first jhāna (etc.) where, when, and for as long as he wishes; he has no difficulty in attaining.”

3“Here a meditator is skilled in attainment regarding concentration but not skilled in concentration regarding concentration.

4“Here a meditator is skilled neither in concentration regarding concentration nor in attainment regarding concentration.

5“Here a meditator is skilled both in concentration regarding concentration and in attainment regarding concentration.

6“Therein, bhikkhus, the meditator who is skilled both in concentration regarding concentration and in attainment regarding concentration is the chief, the best, the foremost, the highest, the most excellent of these four kinds of meditators.

7“Just as, bhikkhus, from a cow comes milk, from milk comes cream, from cream comes butter, from butter comes ghee, and from ghee comes cream-of-ghee,²⁹⁹ Sappimaṇḍa. See II, n. 64. which is reckoned the best of all these, so too the meditator who is skilled both in concentration regarding concentration and in attainment regarding concentration is the chief, the best, the foremost, the highest, the most excellent of these four kinds of meditators.”

2. Maintenance in relation to Concentration

1At Sāvatthī. “Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of meditators. What four?

2“Here, bhikkhus, a meditator is skilled in concentration regarding concentration but not skilled in maintenance regarding concentration.³⁰⁰ Na samādhismiṁ ṭhitikusalo. Spk: Not skilled in steadying the jhāna, unable to steady the jhāna for a mere seven or eight fingersnaps. This skill may correspond to the “mastery in determination” (adhiṭṭhānavasī) described at Paṭis I 100: “He determines (the duration of) the first jhāna (etc.) where, when, and for as long as he wishes; he has no difficulty in determining (the duration).”

3“Here a meditator is skilled in maintenance regarding concentration but not skilled in concentration regarding concentration.

4“Here a meditator is skilled neither in concentration nor in maintenance regarding concentration.

5“Here a meditator is skilled both in concentration and in maintenance regarding concentration.

6“Therein, bhikkhus, the meditator who is skilled both in concentration and in maintenance regarding concentration [265] is the chief, the best, the foremost, the supreme, the most excellent of these four kinds of meditators.

7“Just as, bhikkhus, from a cow comes milk … and from ghee comes cream-of-ghee, which is reckoned the best of all these, so too the meditator who is skilled both in concentration and in maintenance regarding concentration … is the most excellent of these four kinds of meditators.”

3. Emergence in relation to Concentration

1(The same, but for “skilled in maintenance” read “skilled in emergence. ”)³⁰¹ Na vuṭṭhānakusalo. Spk: Unable to emerge from the jhāna at the predetermined time. See the definition of “mastery in emergence” (vuṭṭhānavasī) at Paṭis I 100, parallel to the definitions of the previous two masteries.

4. Pliancy in relation to Concentration

1(The same, but read “skilled in pliancy.”)³⁰² Na kallitakusalo. Spk: Unskilled in making the mind pliant by gladdening it. [266]

5. The Object in relation to Concentration

1(The same, but read “skilled in the object.”)³⁰³ Na ārammaṇakusalo. Spk: Unskilled in the kasiṇa object. The objects of the various meditation subjects used for gaining concentration are discussed at Vism 113 (Ppn 3:117).

6. The Range in relation to Concentration

1(The same, but read “skilled in the range.”)³⁰⁴ Na gocarakusalo. Spk: Unskilled in the range of the meditation subject [Spk-pṭ: in the range of the concentration to be produced, in the place of its occurrence known as the meditation subject], and unskilled in the range of the alms round [Spk-pṭ: owing to lack of mindfulness and clear comprehension]. Mp III 354 comments somewhat differently: “Having avoided the unsuitable things that are unhelpful and pursued the suitable things that are helpful, he is skilled in the range when he knows, ‘This concentration has a sign (nimitta, a mental image) as object, this one the characteristics (impermanence, etc.) as object.’” This last sentence refers to the distinction between samatha (serenity meditation) and vipassanā (insight meditation).
[267]

7. Resolution in relation to Concentration

1(The same, but read “skilled in resolution.”)³⁰⁵ Na abhinīhārakusalo. Spk has nothing helpful, but Spk-pṭ says: “Unskilled in resolving to elevate the meditation subject so that it partakes of distinction (kammaṭṭhānaṁ visesabhāgiyatāya abhinīharituṁ akusalo). This means being unable to raise it from the first jhāna to the second, from the second to the third, etc.” Mp III 354-55: “He is said to be skilled in resolution in regard to concentration when he is able to resolve on the concentration of the first jhāna, etc., for the sake of attaining the successively higher attainments.”

8. Thoroughness in relation to Concentration

1(The same, but read “a thorough worker regarding concentration.”)³⁰⁶ Na sakkaccakārī. Spk: He does not act carefully enough to enter jhāna. [268]

9. Persistence in relation to Concentration

1(The same, but read “a persistent worker regarding concentration.”)³⁰⁷ Na sātaccakārī.

10. Suitability in relation to Concentration

1(The same, but read “one who does what is suitable regarding concentration. ”)³⁰⁸ Na sappāyakārī. Spk: He is unable to fulfil the qualities that are helpful, suitable, for concentration. [269]

11. Maintenance in relation to Attainment

1At Sāvatthī. “Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of meditators. What four?

2“Here, bhikkhus, a meditator is skilled in attainment regarding concentration but not skilled in maintenance regarding concentration.

3“Here a meditator is skilled in maintenance regarding concentration but not skilled in attainment regarding concentration.

4“Here a meditator is skilled neither in attainment nor in maintenance regarding concentration.

5“Here a meditator is skilled both in attainment and in maintenance regarding concentration.

6“Therein, bhikkhus, the meditator who is skilled both in attainment and in maintenance regarding concentration is the chief, the best, the foremost, the highest, the most excellent of these four kinds of meditators.

7“Just as, bhikkhus, from a cow comes milk … and from ghee comes cream-of-ghee, which is reckoned the best of all these, so too the meditator who is skilled both in attainment and in maintenance regarding concentration … is the most excellent of these four kinds of meditators.”

12. Emergence in relation to Attainment

1(The same, but for “skilled in maintenance regarding concentration” read “skilled in emergence regarding concentration.”) [270]

13. Pliancy in relation to Attainment

(The same, but read “skilled in pliancy.”)

14. The Object in relation to Attainment

(The same, but read “skilled in the object.”)

15. The Range in relation to Attainment

1(The same, but read “skilled in the range.”) [271]

16. Resolution in relation to Attainment

(The same, but read “skilled in resolution.”)

17. Thoroughness in relation to Attainment

(The same, but read “a thorough worker regarding concentration.”)

18. Persistence in relation to Attainment

(The same, but read “a persistent worker regarding concentration.”)

19. Suitability in relation to Attainment

1(The same, but read “one who does what is suitable regarding concentration.” ) [272]

20. Emergence in relation to Maintenance

1At Sāvatthī. “Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of meditators. What four?

2“Here, bhikkhus, a meditator is skilled in maintenance regarding concentration but not skilled in emergence regarding concentration.

3“Here a meditator is skilled in emergence regarding concentration but not skilled in maintenance regarding concentration.

4“Here a meditator is skilled neither in maintenance nor in emergence regarding concentration.

5“Here a meditator is skilled both in maintenance and in emergence regarding concentration.

6“Therein, bhikkhus, the meditator who is skilled both in maintenance and in emergence regarding concentration is the chief … the most excellent of these four kinds of meditators.” [273]

21-27. Pliancy in relation to Maintenance, Etc.

(These seven suttas are modelled on the preceding one, but “emergence” is replaced by the seven terms from “pliancy” through “one who does what is suitable,” as in §§13-19.)

28. Pliancy in relation to Emergence

1At Sāvatthī. “Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of meditators. What four?

2“Here, bhikkhus, a meditator is skilled in emergence but not in pliancy … [274] … skilled in pliancy but not in emergence … skilled neither in emergence nor in pliancy … skilled both in emergence and in pliancy regarding concentration.

3“Therein, bhikkhus, the meditator who is skilled both in emergence and in pliancy regarding concentration is the chief … the most excellent of these four kinds of meditators.”

29-34. The Object in relation to Emergence, Etc.

1(These six suttas are modelled on the preceding one, but “pliancy” is replaced by the six terms from “the object” through “one who does what is suitable.”) [275]

35. The Object in relation to Pliancy

1At Sāvatthī. “Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of meditators. What four?

2“Here, bhikkhus, a meditator is skilled in pliancy but not in the object … skilled in the object but not in pliancy … skilled neither in pliancy nor in the object … skilled both in pliancy and in the object regarding concentration.

3“Therein, bhikkhus, the meditator who is skilled both in pliancy and in the object regarding concentration is the chief … the most excellent of these four kinds of meditators.”

36-40. The Range in relation to Pliancy, Etc.

(These five suttas are modelled on the preceding one, but “the object” is replaced by the five terms from “the range” through “one who does what is suitable.”)

41. The Range in relation to the Object

1At Sāvatthī. “Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of meditators. What four?

2“Here, bhikkhus, a meditator is skilled in the object but not in the range … skilled in the range but not in the object … skilled neither in the object nor in the range … skilled both in the object and in the range regarding concentration.

3“Therein, bhikkhus, the meditator who is skilled both in the object and in the range regarding concentration is the chief … the most excellent of these four kinds of meditators.” [276]

42-45. Resolution in relation to the Object, Etc.

(These four suttas are modelled on the preceding one, but “the range” is replaced by the four terms from “resolution” through “one who does what is suitable.”)

46. Resolution in relation to the Range

1At Sāvatthī. “Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of meditators. What four?

2“Here, bhikkhus, a meditator is skilled in the range but not in resolution … skilled in resolution but not in the range … skilled neither in the range nor in resolution … skilled both in the range and in resolution regarding concentration.

3“Therein, bhikkhus, the meditator who is skilled both in the range and in resolution regarding concentration is the chief … the most excellent of these four kinds of meditators.”

47-49. Thoroughness in relation to the Range, Etc.

(These three suttas are modelled on the preceding one, but “resolution” is replaced by the three terms: “a thorough worker,” “a persistent worker,” and “one who does what is suitable.”)

50. Thoroughness in relation to Resolution

1At Sāvatthī. “Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of meditators. What four?

2“Here, bhikkhus, a meditator is skilled in resolution [277] but not a thorough worker… a thorough worker but not skilled in resolution … neither skilled in resolution nor a thorough worker … both skilled in resolution and a thorough worker regarding concentration.

3“Therein, bhikkhus, the meditator who is both skilled in resolution and a thorough worker regarding concentration is the chief … the most excellent of these four kinds of meditators.”

51-52. Thoroughness in relation to the Range, Etc.

(These two suttas are modelled on the preceding one, but “a thorough worker” is replaced by the two terms: “a persistent worker” and “one who does what is suitable.”)

53. Persistence in relation to Thoroughness

1At Sāvatthī. “Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of meditators. What four?

2“Here, bhikkhus, a meditator is a thorough worker but not a persistent worker… a persistent worker but not a thorough worker … neither a thorough worker nor a persistent worker … both a thorough worker and a persistent worker regarding concentration.

3“Therein, bhikkhus, the meditator who is both a thorough worker and a persistent worker regarding concentration is the chief … the most excellent of these four kinds of meditators.”

54. Suitability in relation to Thoroughness

1At Sāvatthī. “Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of meditators. What four?

2“Here, bhikkhus, a meditator is a thorough worker but not one who does what is suitable regarding concentration….”

55. Suitability in relation to Persistence

1At Sāvatthī. “Bhikkhus, there are these four kinds of meditators. What four?

2“Here, bhikkhus, a meditator is a persistent worker but not one who does what is suitable … one who does what is suitable but not a persistent worker … neither a persistent worker nor one who does what is suitable … [278] both a persistent worker and one who does what is suitable regarding concentration.

3“Therein, bhikkhus, the meditator who is both a persistent worker and one who does what is suitable regarding concentration is the chief, the best, the foremost, the highest, the most excellent of these four kinds of meditators.

4“Just as, bhikkhus, from a cow comes milk, from milk comes cream, from cream comes butter, from butter comes ghee, and from ghee comes cream-of-ghee, which is reckoned the best of all these, so too the meditator who is both a persistent worker and one who does what is suitable regarding concentration is the chief, the best, the foremost, the highest, the most excellent of these four kinds of meditators.”

The Book of the Aggregates is finished.