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Upasampajja Viharati: Attains and lives doing Jhāna samādhi, in all postures, all activities, all the time

Anonymous friend did some research on the phrase "Upasampajja Viharati" (attains, and lives doing [something]).

These are his original notes, which I will incorporate into a new book I'm working on. 

These are his independent, original comments, whereas the vesion I incorporate into my book will likely modify some of his comments and incorporate some of my own.


Friend's notes on researching Upasampajja Viharati" (attains, and lives doing [something]).

Upasampajja Viharati Not Used in Jhana/Formless/Animtta/Etc Formula

Current conclusion: Upasampajja Viharati is another 'jhana unicorn'-a word or phrase that translators give an entirely new meaning in the context of jhana with no other examples in the suttas having that meaning. An expression that in the vast majority of cases outside of the 8 attainments means 'live having entered', 'keep going what you have developed', 'lives having developed, 'lives having attained', it seems to imply the effort of maintenance of skillful qualities which again would be a full life thing. The only place this doesn't make as natural of sense is the formless attainments, but I highly suspect those formulas are late, although the non-formulaic versions are early.

Type 1:I (cetvimuttim, pannavimuttim dittheva dhamma saym abhinna sacchikatva upasampajja viharati)

DN 6.4, I

DN 8.5, I

DN 11.4, I

DN 15.6, I

DN 26.11, I

DN 28, I

DN 29, I

DN 34.7, I

MN 12, I

MN 40.1

MN 53.1

MN 54.2

MN 73

MN 108

MN 119

MN 120

MN 146

SN 16.9 (includes usages with jhana's/formless states as well)

SN 16.10 (includes usages with jhana's/formless states as well)

SN 21.4 (only contains part of usage I)

SN 21.5 "

SN 21.6 "

SN 21.11 "

SN 22.63 " (Seems like the brahmacariyam version is it's own separate pericope. Perhaps one of the two is earlier??)

SN 47.3 "

SN 47.46 "

SN 48.20 (more standard usage including cetovimmuti etc)

SN 48.43 (also standard)

SN 51.11 (Also standard)

SN 51.12 (also standard)

SN 51.14 (also standard)

"*.18

"*.20

"*.21

"*.23

"*.31

"*.32

SN 55.24 (ceto version)

SN 55.25 (ceto version)

AN 7.39 seems to explain the pericope in more detail?

Type 2 (remaining in vedana)

MN 70

MN 102 (kinda, kinda it's own type as well)

AN 5.176

Type 3

MN 117 (seems unique)

Type 4 (remaining in dhamma (dhamme))

SN 22.2 (may include vedana-like usage too)

Type 5 (idk)

AN 3.60 (an important one 'live having entered that' doesn't make much sense as 'remain/stay having entered that' in context)

Unique ones

AN 4.51-used for alms round with measureless mental samadhi (all postures!!)

AN 4.178

SN 5.45

AN 3.65

‘These things are skillful, blameless, praised by sensible people, and when you undertake them, they lead to welfare and happiness’, then you should acquire them and keep them.

‘ime dhammā kusalā, ime dhammā anavajjā, ime dhammā viññuppasatthā, ime dhammā samattā samādinnā hitāya sukhāya saṁvattantī’ti, atha tumhe, kālāmā, upasampajja vihareyyātha.

again, enter and remain doesn't work here, again referring to a full life thing

Vimokkha's it looks like

DN 24.6?

DN 33.11 ?

SN 46.54

From DN 9:

Saṅkilesikā ceva dhammā pahīyissanti, vodāniyā ca dhammā abhivaḍḍhissanti, paññāpāripūriṁ vepullattañca diṭṭheva dhamme sayaṁ abhiññā sacchikatvā upasampajja viharissati, pāmujjañceva bhavissati pīti ca passaddhi ca sati ca sampajaññañca sukho ca vihāro.

Having entered living in wisdom and joy! Clear reference to third jhana again as a full-life thing.


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