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SN 40.4PTS SN 4.2651 min read

A Question About the Fourth Absorption

Catutthajhānapañhāsutta

Moggallāna speaks to the mendicants of a time when his practice of the fourth absorption was faltering. He expresses his gratitude for the Buddha, who urged him to stabilize that attainment.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 40.4Linked Discourses 40.4
  • 0.21. Moggallānavagga1. By Moggallāna

0.3CatutthajhānapañhāsuttaA Question About the Fourth Absorption

1.1“‘Catutthaṁ jhānaṁ, catutthaṁ jhānan’ti vuccati.“They speak of this thing called the ‘fourth absorption’.1.2Katamaṁ nu kho catutthaṁ jhānanti?What is the fourth absorption?1.3Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, etadahosi:It occurred to me:1.4‘idha bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.‘It’s when, with the giving up of pleasure and pain and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, a mendicant enters and remains in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness.1.5Idaṁ vuccati catutthaṁ jhānan’ti.This is called the fourth absorption.’

1.6So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi.And so … I was entering and remaining in the fourth absorption.1.7Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, iminā vihārena viharato sukhasahagatā saññāmanasikārā samudācaranti.While I was in that meditation, perception and focus accompanied by pleasure beset me.

2.1PTS 4.266Atha kho maṁ, āvuso, bhagavā iddhiyā upasaṅkamitvā etadavoca:Then the Buddha came up to me with his psychic power and said,2.2‘moggallāna, moggallāna.‘Moggallāna, Moggallāna!2.3Mā, brāhmaṇa, catutthaṁ jhānaṁ pamādo, catutthe jhāne cittaṁ saṇṭhapehi, catutthe jhāne cittaṁ ekodiṁ karohi, catutthe jhāne cittaṁ samādahā’ti.Don’t neglect the fourth absorption, brahmin! Settle your mind in the fourth absorption; unify your mind and immerse it in the fourth absorption.’

2.4So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, aparena samayena sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja vihāsiṁ.And so, after some time … I entered and remained in the fourth absorption.

2.5Yañhi taṁ, āvuso, sammā vadamāno vadeyya …pe… mahābhiññataṁ patto”ti.So if anyone should be rightly called a disciple who attained to great direct knowledge with help from the Teacher, it’s me.”

2.6Catutthaṁ.