The Buddha teaches four meditators—skilled in immersion, in persistence in immersion, in both, or in neither—and declares the one skilled in both immersion and persistence in immersion to be foremost, best, and finest, like cream of ghee among dairy products.

SN 34.9 Persistence in Immersion

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, jhāyī. Katame cattāro?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco jhāyī samādhismiṁ samādhikusalo hoti, na samādhismiṁ sātaccakārī. Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco jhāyī samādhismiṁ sātaccakārī hoti, na samādhismiṁ samādhikusalo. Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco jhāyī neva samādhismiṁ samādhikusalo hoti, na ca samādhismiṁ sātaccakārī. Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco jhāyī samādhismiṁ samādhikusalo ca hoti, samādhismiṁ sātaccakārī ca. Tatra, bhikkhave, yvāyaṁ jhāyī samādhismiṁ samādhikusalo ca hoti, samādhismiṁ sātaccakārī ca ayaṁ imesaṁ catunnaṁ jhāyīnaṁ aggo ca seṭṭho ca mokkho ca uttamo ca pavaro ca. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, gavā khīraṁ …pe… pavaro cā”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

“Cattārome, bhikkhave, jhāyī.

“Mendicants, there are these four meditators.

Katame cattāro?

What four?

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

One meditator is skilled in immersion but not in practicing persistently for it. …”

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

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

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

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

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, gavā khīraṁ …pe…

pavaro cā”ti.

Navamaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Collectedness

Collectedness

A mental quality of composure where awareness is gathered, steady, rather than scattered or tense. In such collectedness, supported by mindfulness and right view, experience is clearly known and can be wisely contemplated.

Also known as: mental composure, stability of mind, stillness of mind, concentration, undistracted awareness
Pāli: samādhi, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Vigour

Vigour

Energetic effort and resilience in practice. It is the refusal to shrink back, the 'uphill' force that initiates and sustains wholesome actions against the gravity of habit.

Also known as: energy, effort, enthusiasm, zeal, application of will, persistence
Pāli: vīriya
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Last updated on July 27, 2026