Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
53. Jhāna Saṃyutta
1. Gaṇgā Peyyala
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
53. Kindred Sayings on the Four Trances[ed1]
1. Gangā-Repetition
Suttas 1-12
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
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Sutta 1
Foremost in Purity:
(Ganges — Flowing and Sliding to Eastward)
[1.1] THUS have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
"Monks, there are these four trances.
What four?
Herein a monk, aloof from sensuality,
aloof from evil states,
enters on the first trance
which is accompanied by thought directed and sustained,
born of solitude,
zestful and easeful,
and abides therein.
Then, by the calming down of thought directed and sustained,
he enters on that inward calm,
that one-pointedness of mind,
apart from thought directed and sustained,
that is born of mental balance,
zestful and easeful,
which is the second trance,
and abides therein.
Then, by the fading out of zest,
he abides indifferent,
mindful and composed,
and experiences ease through the body.
Having entered on the third trance,
which the Ariyans describe in these terms:
'He who is indifferent and mindful dwells happily,' -
he abides therein.
Then, by the abandoning of ease,
by the abandoning of discomfort,
by the ending of the happiness and unhappiness that he had before,
entering on that state which is neither pleasant nor painful,
that utter purity of mindfulness reached by indifference,
which is the fourth trance,
he abides therein.
These, monks, are the four trances.
■
"Just as, monks, the river Ganges
flows to the East,
slides to the East,
tends to the East,
even so a monk,
by cultivating the four trances,
making much of the four trances,
flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna.
■
And how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
does a monk flow,
slide
and tend
to Nibbāna?
Herein a monk, aloof from sensuality,
aloof from evil states,
enters on the first trance
which is accompanied by thought directed and sustained,
born of solitude,
zestful and easeful,
and abides therein.
Then, by the calming down of thought directed and sustained,
he enters on that inward calm,
that one-pointedness of mind,
apart from thought directed and sustained,
that is born of mental balance,
zestful and easeful,
which is the second trance,
and abides therein.
Then, by the fading out of zest,
he abides indifferent,
mindful and composed,
and experiences ease through the body.
Having entered on the third trance,
which the Ariyans describe in these terms:
'He who is indifferent and mindful dwells happily,' -
he abides therein.
Then, by the abandoning of ease,
by the abandoning of discomfort,
by the ending of the happiness and unhappiness that he had before,
entering on that state which is neither pleasant nor painful,
that utter purity of mindfulness reached by indifference,
which is the fourth trance,
he abides therein.
That is how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
a monk flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna."
Sutta 2
Yamunā — Flowing and Sliding to Eastward
[2.1] THUS have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
"Just as, monks, the river Yamunā
flows to the East,
slides to the East,
tends to the East,
even so a monk,
by cultivating the four trances,
making much of the four trances,
flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna.
And how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
does a monk flow,
slide
and tend
to Nibbāna?
Herein a monk, aloof from sensuality,
aloof from evil states,
enters on the first trance
which is accompanied by thought directed and sustained,
born of solitude,
zestful and easeful,
and abides therein.
Then, by the calming down of thought directed and sustained,
he enters on that inward calm,
that one-pointedness of mind,
apart from thought directed and sustained,
that is born of mental balance,
zestful and easeful,
which is the second trance,
and abides therein.
Then, by the fading out of zest,
he abides indifferent,
mindful and composed,
and experiences ease through the body.
Having entered on the third trance,
which the Ariyans describe in these terms:
'He who is indifferent and mindful dwells happily,' -
he abides therein.
Then, by the abandoning of ease,
by the abandoning of discomfort,
by the ending of the happiness and unhappiness that he had before,
entering on that state which is neither pleasant nor painful,
that utter purity of mindfulness reached by indifference,
which is the fourth trance,
he abides therein.
That is how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
a monk flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna."
Sutta 3
Acīravatī — Flowing and Sliding to Eastward
[3.1] THUS have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
"Just as, monks, the river Acīravatī
flows to the East,
slides to the East,
tends to the East,
even so a monk,
by cultivating the four trances,
making much of the four trances,
flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna.
And how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
does a monk flow,
slide
and tend
to Nibbāna?
Herein a monk, aloof from sensuality,
aloof from evil states,
enters on the first trance
which is accompanied by thought directed and sustained,
born of solitude,
zestful and easeful,
and abides therein.
Then, by the calming down of thought directed and sustained,
he enters on that inward calm,
that one-pointedness of mind,
apart from thought directed and sustained,
that is born of mental balance,
zestful and easeful,
which is the second trance,
and abides therein.
Then, by the fading out of zest,
he abides indifferent,
mindful and composed,
and experiences ease through the body.
Having entered on the third trance,
which the Ariyans describe in these terms:
'He who is indifferent and mindful dwells happily,' -
he abides therein.
Then, by the abandoning of ease,
by the abandoning of discomfort,
by the ending of the happiness and unhappiness that he had before,
entering on that state which is neither pleasant nor painful,
that utter purity of mindfulness reached by indifference,
which is the fourth trance,
he abides therein.
That is how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
a monk flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna."
Sutta 4
Sarabhū — Flowing and Sliding to Eastward
[4.1] THUS have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
"Just as, monks, the river Sarabhū
flows to the East,
slides to the East,
tends to the East,
even so a monk,
by cultivating the four trances,
making much of the four trances,
flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna.
And how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
does a monk flow,
slide
and tend
to Nibbāna?
Herein a monk, aloof from sensuality,
aloof from evil states,
enters on the first trance
which is accompanied by thought directed and sustained,
born of solitude,
zestful and easeful,
and abides therein.
Then, by the calming down of thought directed and sustained,
he enters on that inward calm,
that one-pointedness of mind,
apart from thought directed and sustained,
that is born of mental balance,
zestful and easeful,
which is the second trance,
and abides therein.
Then, by the fading out of zest,
he abides indifferent,
mindful and composed,
and experiences ease through the body.
Having entered on the third trance,
which the Ariyans describe in these terms:
'He who is indifferent and mindful dwells happily,' -
he abides therein.
Then, by the abandoning of ease,
by the abandoning of discomfort,
by the ending of the happiness and unhappiness that he had before,
entering on that state which is neither pleasant nor painful,
that utter purity of mindfulness reached by indifference,
which is the fourth trance,
he abides therein.
That is how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
a monk flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna."
Sutta 5
Mahī — Flowing and Sliding to Eastward
[5.1] THUS have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
"Just as, monks, the river Mahī
flows to the East,
slides to the East,
tends to the East,
even so a monk,
by cultivating the four trances,
making much of the four trances,
flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna.
And how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
does a monk flow,
slide
and tend
to Nibbāna?
Herein a monk, aloof from sensuality,
aloof from evil states,
enters on the first trance
which is accompanied by thought directed and sustained,
born of solitude,
zestful and easeful,
and abides therein.
Then, by the calming down of thought directed and sustained,
he enters on that inward calm,
that one-pointedness of mind,
apart from thought directed and sustained,
that is born of mental balance,
zestful and easeful,
which is the second trance,
and abides therein.
Then, by the fading out of zest,
he abides indifferent,
mindful and composed,
and experiences ease through the body.
Having entered on the third trance,
which the Ariyans describe in these terms:
'He who is indifferent and mindful dwells happily,' -
he abides therein.
Then, by the abandoning of ease,
by the abandoning of discomfort,
by the ending of the happiness and unhappiness that he had before,
entering on that state which is neither pleasant nor painful,
that utter purity of mindfulness reached by indifference,
which is the fourth trance,
he abides therein.
That is how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
a monk flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna."
Sutta 6
Ganges, Yamunā, Acīravatī, Sarabhū, Mahī — Flowing and Sliding to Eastward
[6.1] THUS have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
"Just as, monks, the river Ganges, Yamunā, Acīravatī, Sarabhū, Mahī
flows to the East,
slides to the East,
tends to the East,
even so a monk,
by cultivating the four trances,
making much of the four trances,
flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna.
And how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
does a monk flow,
slide
and tend
to Nibbāna?
Herein a monk, aloof from sensuality,
aloof from evil states,
enters on the first trance
which is accompanied by thought directed and sustained,
born of solitude,
zestful and easeful,
and abides therein.
Then, by the calming down of thought directed and sustained,
he enters on that inward calm,
that one-pointedness of mind,
apart from thought directed and sustained,
that is born of mental balance,
zestful and easeful,
which is the second trance,
and abides therein.
Then, by the fading out of zest,
he abides indifferent,
mindful and composed,
and experiences ease through the body.
Having entered on the third trance,
which the Ariyans describe in these terms:
'He who is indifferent and mindful dwells happily,' -
he abides therein.
Then, by the abandoning of ease,
by the abandoning of discomfort,
by the ending of the happiness and unhappiness that he had before,
entering on that state which is neither pleasant nor painful,
that utter purity of mindfulness reached by indifference,
which is the fourth trance,
he abides therein.
That is how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
a monk flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna."
Sutta 7
Ganges — Flowing and Sliding to the Ocean
[7.1] THUS have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
"Just as, monks, the river Ganges
flows to the Ocean,
slides to the Ocean,
tends to the Ocean,
even so a monk,
by cultivating the four trances,
making much of the four trances,
flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna.
And how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
does a monk flow,
slide
and tend
to Nibbāna?
Herein a monk, aloof from sensuality,
aloof from evil states,
enters on the first trance
which is accompanied by thought directed and sustained,
born of solitude,
zestful and easeful,
and abides therein.
Then, by the calming down of thought directed and sustained,
he enters on that inward calm,
that one-pointedness of mind,
apart from thought directed and sustained,
that is born of mental balance,
zestful and easeful,
which is the second trance,
and abides therein.
Then, by the fading out of zest,
he abides indifferent,
mindful and composed,
and experiences ease through the body.
Having entered on the third trance,
which the Ariyans describe in these terms:
'He who is indifferent and mindful dwells happily,' -
he abides therein.
Then, by the abandoning of ease,
by the abandoning of discomfort,
by the ending of the happiness and unhappiness that he had before,
entering on that state which is neither pleasant nor painful,
that utter purity of mindfulness reached by indifference,
which is the fourth trance,
he abides therein.
That is how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
a monk flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna."
Sutta 8
Yamunā — Flowing and Sliding to the Ocean
[8.1] THUS have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
"Just as, monks, the river Yamunā
flows to the Ocean,
slides to the Ocean,
tends to the Ocean,
even so a monk,
by cultivating the four trances,
making much of the four trances,
flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna.
And how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
does a monk flow,
slide
and tend
to Nibbāna?
Herein a monk, aloof from sensuality,
aloof from evil states,
enters on the first trance
which is accompanied by thought directed and sustained,
born of solitude,
zestful and easeful,
and abides therein.
Then, by the calming down of thought directed and sustained,
he enters on that inward calm,
that one-pointedness of mind,
apart from thought directed and sustained,
that is born of mental balance,
zestful and easeful,
which is the second trance,
and abides therein.
Then, by the fading out of zest,
he abides indifferent,
mindful and composed,
and experiences ease through the body.
Having entered on the third trance,
which the Ariyans describe in these terms:
'He who is indifferent and mindful dwells happily,' -
he abides therein.
Then, by the abandoning of ease,
by the abandoning of discomfort,
by the ending of the happiness and unhappiness that he had before,
entering on that state which is neither pleasant nor painful,
that utter purity of mindfulness reached by indifference,
which is the fourth trance,
he abides therein.
That is how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
a monk flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna."
Sutta 9
Acīravatī — Flowing and Sliding to the Ocean
[9.1] THUS have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
"Just as, monks, the river Acīravatī
flows to the Ocean,
slides to the Ocean,
tends to the Ocean,
even so a monk,
by cultivating the four trances,
making much of the four trances,
flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna.
And how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
does a monk flow,
slide
and tend
to Nibbāna?
Herein a monk, aloof from sensuality,
aloof from evil states,
enters on the first trance
which is accompanied by thought directed and sustained,
born of solitude,
zestful and easeful,
and abides therein.
Then, by the calming down of thought directed and sustained,
he enters on that inward calm,
that one-pointedness of mind,
apart from thought directed and sustained,
that is born of mental balance,
zestful and easeful,
which is the second trance,
and abides therein.
Then, by the fading out of zest,
he abides indifferent,
mindful and composed,
and experiences ease through the body.
Having entered on the third trance,
which the Ariyans describe in these terms:
'He who is indifferent and mindful dwells happily,' -
he abides therein.
Then, by the abandoning of ease,
by the abandoning of discomfort,
by the ending of the happiness and unhappiness that he had before,
entering on that state which is neither pleasant nor painful,
that utter purity of mindfulness reached by indifference,
which is the fourth trance,
he abides therein.
That is how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
a monk flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna."
Sutta 10
Sarabhū — Flowing and Sliding to the Ocean
[10.1] THUS have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
"Just as, monks, the river Sarabhū
flows to the Ocean,
slides to the Ocean,
tends to the Ocean,
even so a monk,
by cultivating the four trances,
making much of the four trances,
flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna.
And how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
does a monk flow,
slide
and tend
to Nibbāna?
Herein a monk, aloof from sensuality,
aloof from evil states,
enters on the first trance
which is accompanied by thought directed and sustained,
born of solitude,
zestful and easeful,
and abides therein.
Then, by the calming down of thought directed and sustained,
he enters on that inward calm,
that one-pointedness of mind,
apart from thought directed and sustained,
that is born of mental balance,
zestful and easeful,
which is the second trance,
and abides therein.
Then, by the fading out of zest,
he abides indifferent,
mindful and composed,
and experiences ease through the body.
Having entered on the third trance,
which the Ariyans describe in these terms:
'He who is indifferent and mindful dwells happily,' -
he abides therein.
Then, by the abandoning of ease,
by the abandoning of discomfort,
by the ending of the happiness and unhappiness that he had before,
entering on that state which is neither pleasant nor painful,
that utter purity of mindfulness reached by indifference,
which is the fourth trance,
he abides therein.
That is how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
a monk flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna."
Sutta 11
Mahī — Flowing and Sliding to the Ocean
[11.1] THUS have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
"Just as, monks, the river Mahī
flows to the Ocean,
slides to the Ocean,
tends to the Ocean,
even so a monk,
by cultivating the four trances,
making much of the four trances,
flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna.
And how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
does a monk flow,
slide
and tend
to Nibbāna?
Herein a monk, aloof from sensuality,
aloof from evil states,
enters on the first trance
which is accompanied by thought directed and sustained,
born of solitude,
zestful and easeful,
and abides therein.
Then, by the calming down of thought directed and sustained,
he enters on that inward calm,
that one-pointedness of mind,
apart from thought directed and sustained,
that is born of mental balance,
zestful and easeful,
which is the second trance,
and abides therein.
Then, by the fading out of zest,
he abides indifferent,
mindful and composed,
and experiences ease through the body.
Having entered on the third trance,
which the Ariyans describe in these terms:
'He who is indifferent and mindful dwells happily,' -
he abides therein.
Then, by the abandoning of ease,
by the abandoning of discomfort,
by the ending of the happiness and unhappiness that he had before,
entering on that state which is neither pleasant nor painful,
that utter purity of mindfulness reached by indifference,
which is the fourth trance,
he abides therein.
That is how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
a monk flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna."
Sutta 12
Ganges, Yamunā, Acīravatī, Sarabhū, Mahī — Flowing and Sliding to the Ocean
[12.1] THUS have I heard:
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:
"Just as, monks, the river Ganges, Yamunā, Acīravatī, Sarabhū, Mahī
flows to the Ocean,
slides to the Ocean,
tends to the Ocean,
even so a monk,
by cultivating the four trances,
making much of the four trances,
flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna.
And how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
does a monk flow,
slide
and tend
to Nibbāna?
Herein a monk, aloof from sensuality,
aloof from evil states,
enters on the first trance
which is accompanied by thought directed and sustained,
born of solitude,
zestful and easeful,
and abides therein.
Then, by the calming down of thought directed and sustained,
he enters on that inward calm,
that one-pointedness of mind,
apart from thought directed and sustained,
that is born of mental balance,
zestful and easeful,
which is the second trance,
and abides therein.
Then, by the fading out of zest,
he abides indifferent,
mindful and composed,
and experiences ease through the body.
Having entered on the third trance,
which the Ariyans describe in these terms:
'He who is indifferent and mindful dwells happily,' -
he abides therein.
Then, by the abandoning of ease,
by the abandoning of discomfort,
by the ending of the happiness and unhappiness that he had before,
entering on that state which is neither pleasant nor painful,
that utter purity of mindfulness reached by indifference,
which is the fourth trance,
he abides therein.
That is how cultivating,
how making much of
the four trances
a monk flows,
slides
and tends
to Nibbāna."
[ed1] The PTS ed. has no title. I have used Woodward's translation of 'jhāna' for the title.
