Paṭhamatajjhānasutta

Without letting go of six mental states

It is impossible to experience the first level of meditation.

What six?

(1) Sensory engagement

(2) Resentment

(3) Dullness

(4) Restlessness

(5) Doubt [1]

(6) Also, when the disadvantage of sensory engagement is not clearly understood with wise discernment, as it is. [2]

Without letting go of six mental states

It is impossible to experience the first level of meditation.

***

When letting go of six mental states

It is possible to experience the first level of meditation.

What six?

(1) Sensory engagement

(2) Resentment

(3) Dullness

(4) Restlessness

(5) Doubt

(6) Also, when the disadvantage of sensory engagement is clearly understood with wise discernment, as it is.

When letting go of these six mental states

It is possible to experience the first level of meditation.

[1] Kāmacchandaṁ, byāpādaṁ, thinamiddhaṁ, uddhaccakukkuccaṁ, vicikicchaṁ. 

[2] Kāmesu kho panassa ādīnavo na yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya sudiṭṭho hoti.