Other translators render abhijjha as "greed" or "covetousness".
I go with 'avarice' (violating my rule of using simple plain English as much as possible), because there are many pali words for 'greed', but abhijja and avarice both start with letter 'a' so it makes it easier to remember that connection.
Definition of avarice
: excessive or insatiable desire for wealth or gain : GREEDINESS, CUPIDITY
STED 4sp (famous Sati-'paṭṭhāna formula)
kāye kāyā-(a)nu-passī viharati | Body-as-body – continuous-seeing (he) abides-in, |
ātāpī sampajāno satimā, | (he is) ardent 🏹, (a) lucid-discerner 👁, (a) rememberer 🐘, |
vineyya loke abhijjhā-do-manassaṃ; | vanquishing worldly avarice-(and)-distressed-mental-states. |
vedanāsu vedanā-(a)nu-passī viharati | Experienced-sensations-(as)-experienced-sensations – continuous-seeing (he) abides-in |
ātāpī sampajāno satimā, | (he is) ardent 🏹, (a) lucid-discerner 👁, (a) rememberer 🐘, |
vineyya loke abhijjhā-do-manassaṃ; | vanquishing worldly avarice-(and)-distressed-mental-states. |
citte cittā-(a)nu-passī viharati | Mind-as mind – continuous-seeing (he) abides-in, |
ātāpī sampajāno satimā, | (he is) ardent 🏹, (a) lucid-discerner 👁, (a) rememberer 🐘, |
vineyya loke abhijjhā-do-manassaṃ; | vanquishing worldly avarice-(and)-distressed-mental-states. |
dhammesu dhammā-(a)nu-passī viharati | ☸Dhamma-[teachings]-as-☸Dhamma – continuous-seeing (he) abides-in, |
ātāpī sampajāno satimā, | (he is) ardent 🏹, (a) lucid-discerner 👁, (a) rememberer 🐘, |
vineyya loke abhijjhā-do-manassaṃ; | vanquishing worldly avarice-(and)-distressed-mental-states. |
This code phrase in 4sp means abandon the 5 cords of sensual pleasure and the 5 hindrances
vineyya loke abhijjhā-do-manassaṃ; | vanquishing worldly avarice-(and)-distressed-mental-states. |
So when you do the 4sp correctly, it puts you right at the doorway of the 4 jhanas.
This code phrase within STED 1st Jhāna is also referring to the 5 cords of sensual pleasure and 5 hindrances respectively
🚫💑 vivicc’eva kāmehi | 🚫💑 Quite-withdrawn (from) sensuality, |
🚫😠 vivicca a-kusalehi dhammehi | 🚫😠 withdrawn (from) un-skillful Dhamma [teachings & qualities], |
(V&V💭) sa-vitakkaṃ sa-vicāraṃ | (V&V💭) With-directed-thought, with-evaluation, |
😁🙂 viveka-jaṃ pīti-sukhaṃ | 😁🙂 withdrawal-born rapture-&-pleasure, |
🌘 paṭhamaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja viharati. | 🌘 first Jhāna (he) enters, dwells. |
☸🦍 fun with Pāḷi: A.B.H.I.J.jhā = Always Be Happy In Jhana
So putting all that information together, that fun acronym helps you remember that abandoning avarice (abhijjha), leads you right into the jhanas.
Doing 4sp correctly, lands you right at the doorway of first jhana and beyond.
Also, Always be happy in jhana means not just sitting meditation with eyes closed, but in every single posture, in any activity, you can keep at least a partial jhana fired up.
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