Six qualities to abandon to dwell in the first jhāna - 1) thoughts of sensual desire, 2) thoughts of ill will, 3) thoughts of harm, 4) perception of sensual desire, 5) perception of ill will, 6) perception of harm.

AN 6.74 Dutiya tajjhāna sutta - First Jhāna (Second)

“Cha, bhikkhave, dhamme appahāya abhabbo paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharituṁ. Katame cha?

“Bhikkhus, without |giving up::letting go, abandoning, removing [pahāna]| these six things, one is incapable of entering and abiding in the first jhāna. What are the six?

Kāmavitakkaṁ, byāpādavitakkaṁ, vihiṁsāvitakkaṁ, kāmasaññaṁ, byāpādasaññaṁ, vihiṁsāsaññaṁime kho, bhikkhave, cha dhamme appahāya abhabbo paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharituṁ.

1.) Thoughts of sensual desire, 2) thoughts of ill will, 3) thoughts of harm, 4) perception of sensual desire, 5) perception of ill will, 6) perception of harm. Bhikkhus, without giving up these six things, one is incapable of entering and abiding in the first jhāna.

Cha, bhikkhave, dhamme pahāya bhabbo paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharituṁ. Katame cha?

Bhikkhus, by abandoning these six things, one is capable of entering and abiding in the first jhāna. What are the six?

Kāmavitakkaṁ, byāpādavitakkaṁ, vihiṁsāvitakkaṁ, kāmasaññaṁ, byāpādasaññaṁ, vihiṁsāsaññaṁime kho, bhikkhave, cha dhamme pahāya bhabbo paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharitun”ti.

1.) Thoughts of sensual desire, 2) thoughts of ill will, 3) thoughts of harm, 4) perception of sensual desire, 5) perception of ill will, 6) perception of harm. Bhikkhus, by abandoning these six things, one is capable of entering and abiding in the first jhāna.”

Topics & Qualities:

Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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Harm

Harm

Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
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Ill will

Ill will

A mental quality of actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, manifesting as deliberate thoughts or intentions that oppose kindness and compassion; it fuels conflict and obstructs goodwill.

Also known as: actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, thought of malevolence towards another, hostile reflections towards another
Pāli: byāpāda
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Jhana

Jhana

An abiding with a steady, collected awareness that is attained through seclusion from the five hindrances and unwholesome mental states. When supported by right view, a jhāna can be a basis for the wearing away of taints and directing the mind toward the vision of Nibbāna.

Also known as: meditation, undistracted awareness, absorption, mental absorption
Pāli: jhāna, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Sensual desire

Sensual desire

A mental quality of desiring sensory gratification. It pulls the mind’s attention toward sights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touches in a search for satisfaction.

Also known as: craving for sensuality, passion for sensual pleasures, lust, pull toward enticing sense objects
Pāli: kāmacchanda
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Last updated on July 11, 2026