(९) चत्वारि ध्यानानि — The Four Dhyānas

Sanskrit

तत्र भिक्षवश्चात्वारि ध्यानानि कतमानि ?

Translation

There, O monks, what are the four meditative absorptions (dhyānas)?


Sanskrit

इह भिक्षवो भिक्षुर्विविक्तं कामैः विविक्तं पापकैरकुशलैर्धर्मैः…

Translation

Here, a monk, secluded from sensual desires and secluded from evil, unwholesome states…


Sanskrit

सवितर्कं सविचारं विवेकजं प्रीतिसुखं प्रथमं ध्यानमुपसंपद्य विहरति।

Translation

…attains and dwells in the first dhyāna, which is accompanied by thought (vitarka) and reflection (vicāra), with joy (prīti) and pleasure (sukha) born of seclusion.


Sanskrit

स वितर्कविचाराणां व्युपशमादध्यात्मसंप्रसादाच्चेतस एकोतिभावादवितर्कमविचारं…

Translation

With the stilling of thought and reflection, through internal tranquility and unification of the mind, (he enters) a state without thought or reflection…


Sanskrit

समाधिजं प्रीतिसुखं द्वितीयं ध्यानमुपसंपद्य विहरति।

Translation

…attains and dwells in the second dhyāna, which has joy and pleasure born of concentration.


Sanskrit

स प्रीतेर्विरागादुपेक्षको विहरति, स्मृतः संप्रजन्यं च (संप्रजानन्) सुखं कायेन प्रतिसंवेदयते-

Translation

With the fading away of joy, he dwells equanimous, mindful, and clearly aware, experiencing pleasure with the body—


Sanskrit

यत्तदार्या आचक्षते उपेक्षकः स्मृतिमान् सुखविहारी-तृतीयं ध्यानमुपसंपद्य विहरति।

Translation

…of which the Noble Ones say: “He is equanimous, mindful, and dwells in pleasure”—attaining and dwelling in the third dhyāna.


Sanskrit

स सुखस्य च प्रहाणाद्दुःखस्य च प्रहाणात् पूर्वमेव सौमनस्यदौर्मनस्ययोरस्तंगमाद्…

Translation

With the abandoning of pleasure and pain, and with the previous disappearance of joy and grief…


Sanskrit

अदुःखासुखमुपेक्षास्मृतिपरिशुद्धं चतुर्थं ध्यानमुपसंपद्य विहरति॥

Translation

…he attains and dwells in the fourth dhyāna, which is neither-pain-nor-pleasure and has purity of mindfulness due to equanimity.


Sanskrit

इमानि भिक्षवश्चत्वारि ध्यानानि॥

Translation

These, O monks, are the four dhyānas.