MN 79 first 3 jhanas a path to perfect happiness, 4th jhana is realization of it

English recording

sutta text: ● MN 79 - 🔗🔊 26m, Cūḷa-sakuludāyi: shorter (discourse to) sakuludayi

Interesting things about jhanas in that sutta:

* “Well sir, what is that grounded path (paṭipadā) for realizing a world of perfect happiness (ekanta-sukhassa lokassa)?”
“It’s when a monk, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first jhāna.... 2nd... 3rd...".
* 4th jhana with the ability to converse with deities who live in the world of perfect happiness (ekanta-sukhassa lokassa) is the point where the Buddha actually considers it to be having realized that world, whereas the first 3 jhanas are just the preparation, "that grounded path (paṭipadā)."
* interestingly, the 4 jhanas again are somewhat paradoxically part of the list when the Buddha describes the things for which monks ordained, that are better than the realization of the 'world of perfect happiness.'.

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