The Related Suttas Collection 40.1

1. By Moggallāna

A Question About the First Absorption

At one time Venerable Mahāmoggallāna was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. There Venerable Mahāmoggallāna addressed the bhikkhus: “Friends, bhikkhus!”

“Friend,” they replied. Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said this:

“Just now, friends, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind: ‘They speak of this thing called the “first jhāna”. What is the first jhāna?’ It occurred to me: ‘It’s when a bhikkhu, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first jhāna, which has the (mental) joy and (bodily) pleasure born of seclusion, while thougths are being born and sustained analysis is going on. This is called the first jhāna.’

And so … I was entering and remaining in the first jhāna. While I was in that meditation, perceptions accompanied by sensual pleasures beset me due to loss of focus.

Then the Buddha came up to me with his psychic power and said, ‘Moggallāna, Moggallāna! Don’t neglect the first jhāna, brahmin! Settle your mind in the first jhāna; unify your mind and immerse it in the first jhāna.’

And so, after some time … I entered and remained in the first jhāna.

So if anyone should be rightly called a disciple who attained to great direct knowledge with help from the Teacher, it’s me.”