HeartDhamma

SN 35.99 Cultivate Samādhi

Samādhi Sutta

 

“Monks,

Cultivate Samādhi.

With a composed and harmonious mind,

A monk understands things as they truly are.

 

What does one understand as it truly is?

 

[Eye]

One understands as it is:

 

(1) The eye is constantly changing, [1]

(2) Shapes are constantly changing,

(3) Visual cognition is constantly changing.

(4) Visual contact is constantly changing.[2]

 

Therefore, sensations that emerge

Based on visual contact,[3]

Whether pleasant, unpleasant or neutral

One knows them to be constantly changing.[4]

 

[Ear]

One understands as it is:

 

(1) The ear is constantly changing,

(2) Sounds are constantly changing,

(3) Auditive cognition is constantly changing,

(4) Auditive contact is constantly changing.

 

Therefore, sensations that emerge

Based upon auditive contact, 

Whether pleasant, unpleasant or neutral

One knows them to be constantly changing.

 

[Nose]

One understands as it is:

 

(1) The nose is constantly changing,

(2) Odors are constantly changing,

(3) Olfactive cognition is constantly changing.

(4) Olfactive contact is constantly changing.

 

Therefore, sensations that emerge 

Based upon Olfactive contact, 

Whether it is pleasant, unpleasant or neutral

One knows them to be constantly changing.

 

[Tongue]

One understands as it is:

 

(1) The tongue is constantly changing

(2) Tastes are constantly changing,

(3) Gustative cognition is constantly changing.

(4) Gustative contact is constantly changing.

 

Therefore, sensations that emerge 

Based upon Gustative contact, 

Whether pleasant, unpleasant or neutral

One knows them to be constantly changing.

 

[Body]

One understands as it is:

 

(1) The body is constantly changing,

(2) Tangibles are constantly changing,

(3) Bodily cognition is constantly changing.

(4) Bodily contact is constantly changing.

 

 

Therefore, sensations that emerge 

Based on bodily contact,

Whether pleasant, unpleasant or neutral

One knows them to be constantly changing.

 

[Mind]

One understands as it is:

 

(1) The mind is constantly changing,

(2) Concepts are constantly changing,

(3) Mental cognition is constantly changing.

(4) Mental contact is constantly changing.

 

Therefore, sensations that emerge 

Based upon mental contact, 

Whether pleasant, unpleasant or neutral,

One knows them to be constantly changing.

 

 

 

“Cultivate Samādhi monks.

With a composed mind,

A monk understands things as they truly are.”

 

 


[1] Anicca: Inconstant, transitory, unsteady, impermanent, unstable.

[2] ‘cakkhu­samphasso anicco’ti yathābhūtaṃ pajānāti.

[3] ‘Yampidaṃ cakkhu­samphassa­paccayā uppajjati vedayitaṃ

[4] tampi aniccan’ti yathābhūtaṃ pajānāti.

 

 

 

This is a gift of Dhamma

All Sutta Translations by Ānanda are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.