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☸šŸ¦ fun with Pāįø·i: A.B.H.I.J.jhā = Always Be Happy In Jhana

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-'paį¹­į¹­hāna formula)

kāye kāyā-(a)nu-passī viharati
Body-as-body – continuous-seeing (he) abides-in,
ātāpī sampajāno satimā,
(he is) ardent šŸ¹, (a) lucid-discerner šŸ‘, (a) rememberer šŸ˜,
vineyya loke abhijjhā-do-manassaį¹ƒ;
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 šŸ¹, (a) lucid-discerner šŸ‘, (a) rememberer šŸ˜,
vineyya loke abhijjhā-do-manassaį¹ƒ;
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 šŸ¹, (a) lucid-discerner šŸ‘, (a) rememberer šŸ˜,
vineyya loke abhijjhā-do-manassaį¹ƒ;
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 šŸ¹, (a) lucid-discerner šŸ‘, (a) rememberer šŸ˜,
vineyya loke abhijjhā-do-manassaį¹ƒ;
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-manassaį¹ƒ;
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. 



šŸš«šŸ’‘ vivicc’eva kāmehi
šŸš«šŸ’‘ Quite-withdrawn (from) sensuality,
šŸš«šŸ˜  vivicca a-kusalehi dhammehi
šŸš«šŸ˜  withdrawn (from) un-skillful Dhamma [teachings & qualities],
(V&VšŸ’­) sa-vitakkaį¹ƒ sa-vicāraį¹ƒ
(V&VšŸ’­) With-directed-thought, with-evaluation,
šŸ˜šŸ™‚ viveka-jaį¹ƒ pÄ«ti-sukhaį¹ƒ
šŸ˜šŸ™‚ withdrawal-born rapture-&-pleasure,
šŸŒ˜ paį¹­hamaį¹ƒ jhānaį¹ƒ upasampajja viharati.
šŸŒ˜ first Jhāna (he) enters, dwells.


☸šŸ¦ fun with Pāįø·i: 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. 


A.B.H.I.J.jhā = Always Be Happy In Jhana



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