"Bhikkhus, without abandoning six qualities, one is incapable of entering and dwelling in the first jhāna. What are the six?
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Thoughts of sensual desire,
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thoughts of ill-will,
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thoughts of harm,
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perception of sensual desire,
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perception of ill-will,
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perception of harm.
Bhikkhus, without abandoning these six qualities, one is incapable of entering and dwelling in the first jhāna.
Bhikkhus, by abandoning these six qualities, one is capable of entering and dwelling in the first jhāna. What are the six?
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Thoughts of sensual desire,
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thoughts of ill-will,
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thoughts of harm,
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perception of sensual desire,
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perception of ill-will,
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perception of harm.
Bhikkhus, by abandoning these six qualities, one is capable of entering and dwelling in the first jhāna."
The thoughts or perceptions of sensual desire, ill-will or harm, when present, prevent for the unconditioned mental quality of joy to arise in the mind. In addition to this, one will also have to be clear of the mental hindrances of complacency (dullness and drowsiness), restlessness (mental agitation), and doubt. Through a well established life practice of training per the gradual training guidelines, one is able to dwell in the jhānas (jhanas) whenever these conditions are met, whether they’re walking, sitting, standing, or lying down.
Clear comprehension and mindfulness: The role of cultivating mindfulness is to aid in recollecting and recognizing when one is experiencing one of the mental hindrances, to then be able to apply the faculty of persistence for the letting go of it.
Mindfulness is gradually cultivated, through a gradual practice per the gradual training guideline areas.
Practice Area
Training in Ethical conduct - not shared as a rule or commandment, rather as a guideline that one can verify by implementing and observing for the condition of the mind.
Related Teachings
- The five precepts (AN 8.39) ↗️ - An overflowing stream of merit, gifts one can offer to all living beings
Practice Area
A cultivated practice of ethical conduct forms the basis of all the other practice areas.
Related Teachings
- Six Directions: A teaching on purifying ethical conduct (DN 31) - A detailed guide on lay ethics
Practice Area
Application of sense restraint - Avoid activities and engagements that lead to excitement. Or on recognition, disengage.
Related Teachings
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Causes for Diverse Perceptions, Intentions, Passions, Quests (SN 14.7) are the diverse external elements of sense experience.
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All is Burning (SN 35.28) - The “all” consisting of the six interior and exterior sense bases is burning with passion, aversion and delusion.
Practice Area
Moderation in eating - Eating for health, rationally, in moderation. Not for delight, not for bulking up, not for pleasant and agreeable feelings
Related Teachings
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Monastics practice eating before the noon (one of the eight precepts). This isn’t necessary, however, eating within an interval can likely help.
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A bucket of rice: King Pasenadi uses a verse given by the Buddha when eating to aid his mindfulness. One can similarly create a personalized reminder.
Practice Area
Training in wakefulness- Purifying the mind of obstacles through a practice of walking and sitting meditation in the morning and evening. Sleep in lion’s posture after noting the idea of rising
Related Teachings
- Meditation Practise and Guided Meditations ↗️ - Guided meditation on breathing-mindfulness meditation - this is the primary form of meditation taught by the Buddha. Also guided meditations on loving-kindness and forgiveness practices.
Practice Area
Training in Mindfulness and Full Awareness - Being fully aware when walking, standing, bending, sitting, stretching, lying down, when falling asleep, waking up, speaking, keeping silent. Across all activities.
Related Teachings
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Mindfulness of body (AN 1.575 - 590) - Short teachings on the importance of mindfulness of the body.
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The Four Establishments of Mindfulness (MN 10) - A detailed teaching on cultivating mindfulness of body, feelings, mind and mental qualities.
Practice Area
Training in seclusion Abandoning hindrances - Staying in seclusion, one trains in abandoning of the five hindrances: sensual desire, ill-will, doubt, complacency (dullness), mental agitation (restlessness and remorse)
Practice Area
Abiding in jhānas - Abiding in the four jhānas, progressively arising of the seven awakening factors.
Related Teachings
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5 qualities to abandon to dwell in the first jhāna (AN 5.256) - Stinginess regarding dwellings, families, gains, reputation and teachings should be abandoned to dwell in the first jhāna.
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The Path to Liberation with similes - In this teaching, the Buddha is sharing the path with visual similes that resemble the phenomenology of the mind as it is progressing on the path to liberation.
Related Teachings:
Sensuality is subject to time, of much stress (SN 1.20) - A teaching sharing on sensual pleasures as subject to time, leading to a pursuit that is rooted in suffering and stress, that don’t lead to cessation of stress.
The Fever of Sensual Pleasures (from MN 75) - Accused by a hedonist of being too negative, the Buddha recounts the luxury of his upbringing, and his realization of how little value there was in such things. Through renunciation he found a far greater pleasure.
Thoughts arise from a cause, not without a cause (SN 14.12) - In this teaching, the Buddha is sharing that as one grows in mindfulness, one is able to have a greater choice in recognizing which thoughts are arising and if they’re in the unwholesome category, then one is able to apply right effort and abandon them.
The five hindrances weaken wisdom | simile of side-channels weakening a river’s flow (AN 5.51) - The five hindrances weaken wisdom like side-channels weaken a river’s flow.
5 qualities to abandon to dwell in the first jhāna (AN 5.256) - This teaching lists five areas to abandon stinginess that correlate to the six qualities listed in this teaching.