Sāvatthinidānaṃ.

The (sutta) opening at Sāvatthī.{n}

Cattārome, bhikkhave, jhāyī. Katame cattāro?

There are, bhikkhus, these four types of meditators. Which four?

Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco jhāyī samādhismiṃ samāpatti·kusalo hoti, na samādhismiṃ ṭhiti·kusalo. Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco jhāyī samādhismiṃ ṭhiti·kusalo hoti, na samādhismiṃ samāpatti·kusalo. Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco jhāyī neva samādhismiṃ samāpatti·kusalo hoti, na ca samādhismiṃ ṭhiti·kusalo. Idha pana, bhikkhave, ekacco jhāyī samādhismiṃ samāpatti·kusalo ca hoti, samādhismiṃ ṭhiti·kusalo ca.

Here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is skilled in attaining concentration, but not skilled in maintaining concentration. Or here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is not skilled in attaining concentration, but skilled in maintaining concentration. Or here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is neither skilled in attaining concentration, nor skilled in maintaining concentration. Or here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is skilled in attaining concentration, and skilled in maintaining concentration.

Tatra, bhikkhave, yvāyaṃ jhāyī samādhismiṃ samāpatti·kusalo ca hoti, samādhismiṃ ṭhiti·kusalo ca ayaṃ imesaṃ catunnaṃ jhāyīnaṃ aggo ca seṭṭho ca mokkho ca uttamo ca pavaro ca.

Amon these four types of meditators, bhikkhus, the one who is skilled in attaining concentration, and skilled in maintaining concentration is the highest, the foremost, the headmost, the greatest, and the most distinguished of these four types of meditators.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, gavā khīraṃ, khīramhā dadhi, dadhimhā navanītaṃ, navanītamhā sappi, sappimhā sappimaṇḍo tatra aggamakkhāyati; evameva kho, bhikkhave, yvāyaṃ jhāyī samādhismiṃ samādhi·kusalo ca hoti samādhismiṃ ṭhiti·kusalo ca ayaṃ imesaṃ catunnaṃ jhāyīnaṃ aggo ca seṭṭho ca mokkho ca uttamo ca pavaro cā ti.

Just as, bhikkhus, from the cow there is milk, from milk there is cream, from cream there is butter, from butter there is ghee and from ghee there is cream of ghee, which is considered as the most distinguished of them; in the same way, bhikkhus, the one who is skilled in attaining concentration, and skilled in maintaining concentration is the highest, the foremost, the headmost, the greatest, and the most distinguished of these four types of meditators.