SN 56.1 (S v 414)
Samādhi Sutta
— Concentration —
[concentration]

The Buddha exhorts the bhikkhus to practice concentration, for it leads to understanding the four noble truths in their true nature.


Note: info·bubbles on every Pali word


Pāḷi

English



(Sāvatthi·nidānaṃ).

The (sutta) opening at Sāvatthī.{n}

Samādhiṃ, bhikkhave, bhāvetha. Samāhito, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathā·bhūtaṃ pajānāti. Kiñ·ca yathā·bhūtaṃ pajānāti?

You should develop concentration, bhikkhus. Concentrated, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu understands as it actually is. And what does he understand as it actually is?

‘Idaṃ dukkha’nti yathā·bhūtaṃ pajānāti, ayaṃ dukkha·samudayo’ti yathā·bhūtaṃ pajānāti, ayaṃ dukkha·nirodho’ti yathā·bhūtaṃ pajānāti, ayaṃ dukkha·nirodha·gāminī paṭipadā’ti yathā·bhūtaṃ pajānāti.

He understands as it actually is: 'This is suffering' He understands as it actually is: 'This is the cause of suffering' He understands as it actually is: 'This is the cessation of suffering' He understands as it actually is: 'This is the path leading to the cessation of suffering'.

Samādhiṃ, bhikkhave, bhāvetha. Samāhito, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathā·bhūtaṃ pajānāti.

You should develop concentration, bhikkhus. Concentrated, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu understands as it actually is.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṃ dukkha’nti yogo karaṇīyo; ayaṃ dukkha·samudayo’ti yogo karaṇīyo; ayaṃ dukkha·nirodho’ti yogo karaṇīyo; ayaṃ dukkha·nirodha·gāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo ti.

Therefore, bhikkhus, you should yoke yourselves to [understanding:] 'This is suffering'; you should yoke yourselves to 'This is the cause of suffering'; you should yoke yourselves to 'This is the cessation of suffering'; you should yoke yourselves to 'This is the path leading to the cessation of suffering'.



Bodhi leaf


Note


1. the last paragraph: the presence of this paragraph as a conclusion of this sutta seems to have been derived from the fact that this same paragraph (or, in one case, another quasi-identical) concludes all other suttas in that same Vagga (ie. group pf ten suttas), but it does not make sense logically speaking. One would rather expect a conclusion in the lines of 'Therefore, you should undertake concentration'.



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