"Bhikkhus, without giving up these five qualities, one is incapable of entering and dwelling in the first jhāna.

What are the five?

Stinginess regarding dwellings, stinginess regarding families, stinginess regarding gains, stinginess regarding reputation, and stinginess regarding teachings. These, bhikkhus, are the five qualities that, without giving up, one is incapable of entering and dwelling in the first jhāna.

Bhikkhus, by giving up these five qualities, one is capable of entering and dwelling in the first jhāna.

What are the five?

Stinginess regarding dwellings, stinginess regarding families, stinginess regarding gains, stinginess regarding reputation, and stinginess regarding teachings. These, bhikkhus, are the five qualities that, by giving up, one is capable of entering and dwelling in the first jhāna."


Some context on the five qualities to abandon:

Stinginess regarding dwellings can be reluctance to share living spaces or envying others’ accommodations

Stinginess regarding families can be unwillingness to share or connect with others

Stinginess regarding gains can be reluctance to share one’s material or spiritual gains

Stinginess regarding reputation can be protectiveness or envy over one’s status or achievements

Stinginess regarding teachings can be unwillingness or reluctance to share the Dhamma

Related Teachings:

Gradual training, gradual practice, and gradual progress (MN 107) - The gradual training guidelines when gradually practiced as habits to cultivate until they become easy, automatic, second nature, leads one to cultivate jhānas.

Five hindrances, the four jhānas and the three true knowledges (MN 39) - The path to liberation described with visual similes.