If you're not already familiar with the STED standard formulas for 7sb awakening factors, and first jhana, you wouldn't even recognize what's going on in this sutta because he doesn't use those explicit labels. But I'm here to help:
MN 68 excerpt:
(this is first jhāna he’s referring to, not using STED formula)
“Evaṃ pabbajitena ca pana, anuruddhā, kulaputtena kimassa karaṇīyaṃ?
| “But, Anuruddha and friends, when a respectable person has gone forth like this, what should they do? |
Vivekaṃ, anuruddhā, kāmehi vivekaṃ akusalehi dhammehi pītisukhaṃ nādhigacchati aññaṃ vā tato santataraṃ, tassa abhijjhāpi cittaṃ pariyādāya tiṭṭhati, byāpādopi cittaṃ pariyādāya tiṭṭhati, thinamiddhampi cittaṃ pariyādāya tiṭṭhati uddhaccakukkuccampi cittaṃ pariyādāya tiṭṭhati, vicikicchāpi cittaṃ pariyādāya tiṭṭhati, aratīpi cittaṃ pariyādāya tiṭṭhati, tandīpi cittaṃ pariyādāya tiṭṭhati.
| Take someone who doesn’t achieve the rapture and pleasure that are secluded from sensual pleasures and unskillful qualities, or something even more peaceful than that. Their mind is still occupied by desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, doubt, discontent, and sloth.(5 hindrances) |
Vivekaṃ, anuruddhā, kāmehi vivekaṃ akusalehi dhammehi pītisukhaṃ nādhigacchati aññaṃ vā tato santataraṃ.
| That’s someone who doesn’t achieve the rapture and pleasure that are secluded from sensual pleasures and unskillful qualities, or something even more peaceful than that. (2nd jhana, 3rd, 4th jhana, etc) |
(Buddha gives inspiring talks to provide Dhamma thoughts for pamojja, piti, sukha, the launch code for the 7sb sequence to get you into passadhi/pacification and samadhi)
Taṃ kiṃ maññasi, anuruddhā,
| What do you think, Anuruddha and friends? |
kaṃ atthavasaṃ sampassamāno tathāgato sāvake abbhatīte kālaṅkate upapattīsu byākaroti:
| What advantage does the Realized One see in declaring the rebirth of his disciples who have passed away: |
‘asu amutra upapanno; asu amutra upapanno’”ti?
| ‘This one is reborn here, while that one is reborn there’?” |
“Bhagavaṃmūlakā no, bhante, dhammā bhagavaṃnettikā bhagavaṃpaṭisaraṇā. Sādhu vata, bhante, bhagavantaṃyeva paṭibhātu etassa bhāsitassa attho. Bhagavato sutvā bhikkhū dhāressantī”ti.
| “Our teachings are rooted in the Buddha. He is our guide and our refuge. Sir, may the Buddha himself please clarify the meaning of this. The monks will listen and remember it.” |
“Na kho, anuruddhā, tathāgato janakuhanatthaṃ na janalapanatthaṃ na lābhasakkārasilokānisaṃsatthaṃ na ‘iti maṃ jano jānātū’ti sāvake abbhatīte kālaṅkate upapattīsu byākaroti:
| “The Realized One does not declare such things for the sake of deceiving people or flattering them, nor for the benefit of possessions, honor, or popularity, nor thinking, ‘So let people know about me!’ |
‘asu amutra upapanno, asu amutra upapanno’ti.
| |
Santi ca kho, anuruddhā, kulaputtā saddhā uḷāravedā uḷārapāmojjā.
| Rather, there are respectable persons of faith who are full of sublime joy and gladness (this is nearly synonymous with 7sb pīti-sambojjhanga rapture awakening factor). |
Te taṃ sutvā tadatthāya cittaṃ upasaṃharanti.
| When they hear that, they apply their minds to that end. |
Tesaṃ taṃ, anuruddhā, hoti dīgharattaṃ hitāya sukhāya.
| That is for their lasting welfare and happiness (sukha is a jhana factor and a shadow 7sb awakening factor that follows piti and passadhi). |
(nuns: This is the 7sb awakening factor sequence, and phasu-vihara is code phrase for 4 jhanas)
Idhānuruddhā, bhikkhunī suṇāti:
| Take a nun who hears this: |
‘itthannāmā bhikkhunī kālaṅkatā;
| ‘The nun named so-and-so has passed away. |
sā bhagavatā byākatā—
| The Buddha has declared that, |
aññāya saṇṭhahī’ti.
| she was enlightened.’ |
Sā kho panassā bhaginī sāmaṃ diṭṭhā vā hoti anussavassutā vā:
| And she’s either seen for herself, or heard from someone else, that that sister |
‘evaṃsīlā sā bhaginī ahosi itipi, evaṃdhammā sā bhaginī ahosi itipi, evaṃpaññā sā bhaginī ahosi itipi, evaṃvihārinī sā bhaginī ahosi itipi, evaṃvimuttā sā bhaginī ahosi itipī’ti.
| had such ethics, such qualities, such wisdom, such meditation, or such freedom. |
Sā tassā saddhañca sīlañca sutañca cāgañca paññañca anussarantī tadatthāya cittaṃ upasaṃharati.
| Recollecting (7sb #1 sati-sambojjhanga!) that nun’s faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom, she applies her mind to that end. |
Evampi kho, anuruddhā, bhikkhuniyā phāsuvihāro hoti.
| That’s how a nun lives at ease. |
Idhānuruddhā, bhikkhunī suṇāti:
| Take a nun who hears this: |
‘itthannāmā bhikkhunī kālaṅkatā;
| ‘The nun named so-and-so has passed away. |
sā bhagavatā byākatā—
| The Buddha has declared that, |
pañcannaṃ orambhāgiyānaṃ saṃyojanānaṃ parikkhayā opapātikā tattha parinibbāyinī anāvattidhammā tasmā lokā’ti.
| with the ending of the five lower fetters, she’s been reborn spontaneously and will become nirvana'd there, not liable to return from that world.’ |
Sā kho panassā bhaginī sāmaṃ diṭṭhā vā hoti anussavassutā vā:
| And she’s either seen for herself, or heard from someone else, that that sister |
‘evaṃsīlā sā bhaginī ahosi itipi, evaṃdhammā … pe … evaṃpaññā … evaṃvihārinī … evaṃvimuttā sā bhaginī ahosi itipī’ti.
| had such ethics, such qualities, such wisdom, such meditation, or such freedom. |
Sā tassā saddhañca sīlañca sutañca cāgañca paññañca anussarantī tadatthāya cittaṃ upasaṃharati.
| Recollecting that nun’s faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom, she applies her mind to that end. |
Evampi kho, anuruddhā, bhikkhuniyā phāsuvihāro hoti.
| That too is how a nun lives at ease (code phrase for 4 jhanas). |
Idhānuruddhā, bhikkhunī suṇāti:
| Take a nun who hears this: |
‘itthannāmā bhikkhunī kālaṅkatā;
| ‘The nun named so-and-so has passed away. |
sā bhagavatā byākatā—
| The Buddha has declared that, |
tiṇṇaṃ saṃyojanānaṃ parikkhayā rāgadosamohānaṃ tanuttā sakadāgāminī sakideva imaṃ lokaṃ āgantvā dukkhassantaṃ karissatī’ti.
| with the ending of three fetters, and the weakening of greed, hate, and delusion, she’s a once-returner. She’ll come back to this world once only, then make an end of suffering.’ |
Sā kho panassā bhaginī sāmaṃ diṭṭhā vā hoti anussavassutā vā:
| And she’s either seen for herself, or heard from someone else, that that sister |
‘evaṃsīlā sā bhaginī ahosi itipi, evaṃdhammā … pe … evaṃpaññā … evaṃvihārinī … evaṃvimuttā sā bhaginī ahosi itipī’ti.
| had such ethics, such qualities, such wisdom, such meditation, or such freedom. |
Sā tassā saddhañca sīlañca sutañca cāgañca paññañca anussarantī tadatthāya cittaṃ upasaṃharati.
| Recollecting that nun’s faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom, she applies her mind to that end. |
Evampi kho, anuruddhā, bhikkhuniyā phāsuvihāro hoti.
| That too is how a nun lives at ease. |
Idhānuruddhā, bhikkhunī suṇāti:
| Take a nun who hears this: |
‘itthannāmā bhikkhunī kālaṅkatā;
| ‘The nun named so-and-so has passed away. |
sā bhagavatā byākatā—
| The Buddha has declared that, |
tiṇṇaṃ saṃyojanānaṃ parikkhayā sotāpannā avinipātadhammā niyatā sambodhiparāyaṇā’ti.
| with the ending of three fetters she’s a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, bound for awakening.’ |
Sā kho panassā bhaginī sāmaṃ diṭṭhā vā hoti anussavassutā vā:
| And she’s either seen for herself, or heard from someone else, that that sister |
‘evaṃsīlā sā bhaginī ahosi itipi, evaṃdhammā … evaṃpaññā … evaṃvihārinī … evaṃvimuttā sā bhaginī ahosi itipī’ti.
| had such ethics, such qualities, such wisdom, such meditation, or such freedom. |
Sā tassā saddhañca sīlañca sutañca cāgañca paññañca anussarantī tadatthāya cittaṃ upasaṃharati.
| Recollecting that nun’s faith, ethics, learning, generosity, and wisdom, she applies her mind to that end. |
Evampi kho, anuruddhā, bhikkhuniyā phāsuvihāro hoti.
| That too is how a nun lives at ease. |
(same pattern is described for monks, nuns, laywomen, laymen who attained fruits, and the phasu-vihara comfortable abiding is code phrase for "4 jhanas")
Now going back to beginning of sutta, maybe you'll make the connection:
Atha kho bhagavā te kulaputte ārabbha bhikkhū āmantesi:
| Then the Buddha spoke to the monks about those respectable persons: |
“ye te, bhikkhave, kulaputtā mamaṃ uddissa saddhā agārasmā anagāriyaṃ pabbajitā, kacci te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū abhiratā brahmacariye”ti?
| “monks, those respectable persons who have gone forth from the lay life to homelessness out of faith in me—I trust they’re satisfied with the spiritual life?” |
Evaṃ vutte, te bhikkhū tuṇhī ahesuṃ.
| When this was said, the monks kept silent. |
Dutiyampi kho bhagavā te kulaputte ārabbha bhikkhū āmantesi:
| For a second and a third time the Buddha asked the same question. |
First jhana is not about kasina staring and samatha kung fu!
It's about learning how to skillfully use Dhamma vitakka, first jhana thinking to lubricate the mind with spiritually inspiring and relevant Dharma instructions to carry out.As you can see from this sutta, and many others like this, first jhana is part of a gradual samadhi training, it's a gateway to genuine samadhi and ekaggata, which doesn't happen until second jhana.
Gradual means it's intended for the novice monks, nuns, laypeople to be able to do the entry level first jhana. VRJ (vism. redefinition of jhana), according to their scripture, their redefinition of first jhana only one in 1 million, or 1 in 10 million people can do it. Does that sound gradual to you? And once they can do a redefined first jhana, usually within a week they can do all four jhanas. Does that sound gradual to you? Why would a perfectly enlightened Buddha design a gradual samadhi training to have a steep cliff with a moat blocking entry?
Look at who the Buddha is talking about in this sutta. It's about monastics who've just ordained, are not happy because their minds are obsessed with 5 hindrances and unskillful vitakka/thoughts.
So First jhana, is learning how to replace unskillful thoughts with skillful thoughts. And when you can relax and pacify (passaddhi) the mind and body, then that's first jhana. (MN 19).
The real test of genuine EBT first jhana
If a monastic ordains, they stay ordained, and they've stayed ordained for a long time, because they're happy (sukha), satisfied with the holy life, gladdened and inspired (piti and pamojja, 7sb factors), that's the acid test for having first jhana.Meanwhile, you have highly skilled samatha kung fu experts who can stare at kasinas, get into appana samadhi, the VRJ (vism. redefinition of jhana) for at least a few hours whenever they want, can get into arupa samadhis easily, but they disrobe or commit sex crimes because they may have Vism. definition of appana samadhi and "Jhana", but they don't even have EBT first jhana which means genuinely preferring the seclusion from sense pleasures, rather than indulging in sense pleasures (like sex, drugs, music), 5 hindrances, committing sex crimes, etc.
Samatha kung fu is great, and has it's place, but it has very little to do with genuine EBT first jhana.
Real examples from the suttas on how easy it is to do a low quality first jhana
AN 1, about 45 suttas on what jhāna is. Low qualit...
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