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SN 51.13PTS SN 5.2682 min read

Immersion Due to Enthusiasm

Chandasamādhisutta

An analysis of the four bases of psychic power showing how enthusiasm, energy, higher consciousness, and inquiry work in the context of advanced meditation.

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

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 51.13Linked Discourses 51.13
  • 0.22. Pāsādakampanavagga2. Shaking the Stilt Longhouse

0.3ChandasamādhisuttaImmersion Due to Enthusiasm

1.1“Chandañce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nissāya labhati samādhiṁ, labhati cittassa ekaggataṁ—“Mendicants, if a mendicant depends on enthusiasm in order to gain immersion, gain unification of mind,1.2ayaṁ vuccati chandasamādhi.this is called immersion due to enthusiasm.11.3So anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati.They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise.1.4Uppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati.They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities that have arisen are given up.1.5Anuppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ uppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati.They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities arise.1.6Uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati.They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are fully developed.1.7Ime vuccanti ‘padhānasaṅkhārā’ti.These are called active efforts.21.8Iti ayañca chando, ayañca chandasamādhi, ime ca padhānasaṅkhārā—And so there is this enthusiasm, this immersion due to enthusiasm, and these active efforts.1.9ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgato iddhipādo.This is called the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to enthusiasm, and active effort.

2.1Vīriyañce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nissāya labhati samādhiṁ, labhati cittassa ekaggataṁ—If a mendicant depends on energy in order to gain immersion, gain unification of mind,2.2ayaṁ vuccati ‘vīriyasamādhi’.this is called immersion due to energy.2.3So anuppannānaṁ …pe…They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise …2.4uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati.so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are fully developed.2.5Ime vuccanti ‘padhānasaṅkhārā’ti.These are called active efforts.2.6Iti idañca vīriyaṁ, ayañca vīriyasamādhi, ime ca padhānasaṅkhārā—And so there is this energy, this immersion due to energy, and these active efforts.2.7ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, vīriyasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgato iddhipādo.This is called the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to energy, and active effort.

3.1PTS 5.269Cittañce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nissāya labhati samādhiṁ, labhati cittassa ekaggataṁ—If a mendicant depends on mental development in order to gain immersion, gain unification of mind,3.2ayaṁ vuccati ‘cittasamādhi’.this is called immersion due to mental development.3.3So anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ …pe…They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise …3.4uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati.so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are fully developed.3.5Ime vuccanti ‘padhānasaṅkhārā’ti.These are called active efforts.3.6Iti idañca cittaṁ, ayañca cittasamādhi, ime ca padhānasaṅkhārā—And so there is this mental development, this immersion due to mental development, and these active efforts.3.7ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, cittasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgato iddhipādo.This is called the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to mental development, and active effort.

4.1Vīmaṁsañce, bhikkhave, bhikkhu nissāya labhati samādhiṁ, labhati cittassa ekaggataṁ—If a mendicant depends on inquiry in order to gain immersion, gain unification of mind,4.2ayaṁ vuccati ‘vīmaṁsāsamādhi’.this is called immersion due to inquiry.4.3So anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati …pe…They generate enthusiasm, try, make an effort, exert the mind, and strive so that bad, unskillful qualities don’t arise …4.4uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati.so that skillful qualities that have arisen remain, are not lost, but increase, mature, and are fully developed.4.5Ime vuccanti ‘padhānasaṅkhārā’ti.These are called active efforts.4.6Iti ayañca vīmaṁsā, ayañca vīmaṁsāsamādhi, ime ca padhānasaṅkhārā—And so there is this inquiry, this immersion due to inquiry, and these active efforts.4.7ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, vīmaṁsāsamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgato iddhipādo”ti.This is called the basis of psychic power that has immersion due to inquiry, and active effort.”

4.8Tatiyaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. The basic statement includes a long compound (chandasamādhippadhānasaṅkhārasamannāgataṁ), which leaves the relationship between the terms ambiguous. This analysis clarifies that the first two terms have a dependent relationship, “immersion due to enthusiasm”.

    ↩ sn51.13:1.2
  2. This confirms that these two items of the compound belong together. Padhāna is a normal term for “effort, striving”, while saṅkhāra can mean “effective work” (SN 48.17:1.5). The explanation shows that the energy here is not just something that one has, but which is generated through the active exercise of the mind in the four duties of right effort.

    ↩ sn51.13:1.7