Concentration Attainments

1. I heard thus. At one time the Blessed One was living in the monastery offered by Anāthapiṇḍika in Jeta's grove in Sāvatthi.

2. The Blessed One addressed the monks from there:

3. “Monks, these four develop concentration. What four?

4. “Monks, a certain one developing concentration (jhāna) is clever in bringing the mind to one point (samādhi), not clever in attainments (samāpatti).

5. “Monks, a certain one developing concentration is clever in attainments, not clever in bringing the mind to one point.

6. “Monks, a certain one developing concentration is neither clever in bringing the mind to one point nor clever in attainments.

7. “Monks, a certain one developing concentration is clever in bringing the mind to one point and clever in attainments.

8. “Monks, of these four developing concentration the one who is clever in bringing the mind to one point and clever in attainments is the foremost, the chief, the released, the noble, and the excellent.

9. “Just as the cow gives milk, from milk is curd, from curd butter, from butter ghee, and from ghee the cream of ghee, in the same manner, a person clever in bringing the mind to one point and clever in attainments is the foremost, the chief, the released, the noble, and the excellent.”