SN 34.2  Samādhimūlakaṭhiti sutta - Continuity Of Collectedness

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthi.

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, jhāyī. Katame cattāro?

“Bhikkhus, there are these four types of meditators. What are the four?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco jhāyī samādhismiṁ samādhikusalo hoti, na samādhismiṁ ṭhitikusalo.

Here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is skilled in |collectedness::concentration, mental composure, continuity of mind| but not skilled in the |continuity::stability| of collectedness.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco jhāyī samādhismiṁ ṭhitikusalo hoti, na samādhismiṁ samādhikusalo.

Here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is skilled in the continuity of collectedness but not skilled in collectedness.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco jhāyī neva samādhismiṁ samādhikusalo hoti, na ca samādhismiṁ ṭhitikusalo.

Here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is neither skilled in collectedness nor skilled in the continuity of collectedness.

Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco jhāyī samādhismiṁ samādhikusalo ca hoti, samādhismiṁ ṭhitikusalo ca.

Here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is skilled in both collectedness and in the continuity of collectedness.

Tatra, bhikkhave, yvāyaṁ jhāyī samādhismiṁ samādhikusalo ca hoti samādhismiṁ ṭhitikusalo ca ayaṁ imesaṁ catunnaṁ jhāyīnaṁ aggo ca seṭṭho ca mokkho ca uttamo ca pavaro ca.

Among these, bhikkhus, the meditator who is skilled in both collectedness and in the continuity of collectedness is considered the foremost, the best, the highest, and the most excellent of these four meditators.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, gavā khīraṁ, khīramhā dadhi, dadhimhā navanītaṁ, navanītamhā sappi, sappimhā sappimaṇḍo tatra aggamakkhāyati;

Just as, bhikkhus, from milk comes curd, from curd comes butter, from butter comes ghee, and from ghee comes the cream of ghee, which is regarded as the best;

evameva kho, bhikkhave, yvāyaṁ jhāyī samādhismiṁ samādhikusalo ca hoti samādhismiṁ ṭhitikusalo ca ayaṁ imesaṁ catunnaṁ jhāyīnaṁ aggo ca seṭṭho ca mokkho ca uttamo ca pavaro cā”ti.

So too, bhikkhus, the meditator who is skilled in both collectedness and in the continuity of collectedness is the foremost, the best, the highest, and the most excellent of these four meditators.”