AN4.41 — On the Development of Concentration
Disciples, there are these four developments of concentration. What four?
There is the development of concentration that, when developed and cultivated, leads to living happily in the present life; there is the development of concentration that, when developed and cultivated, leads to the attainment of knowing and vision; there is the development of concentration that, when developed and cultivated, leads to mindfulness and full awareness; there is the development of concentration that, when developed and cultivated, leads to the destruction of the taints.
And what is the development of concentration that, when developed and cultivated, leads to living happily in the present life? Here a disciple, having secluded himself from sensual pleasures... enters and remains in the fourth jhāna. This is the development of concentration that, when developed and cultivated, leads to living happily in the present life.
And what is the development of concentration that, when developed and cultivated, leads to the attainment of knowing and vision? Here a disciple focuses on the perception of light, determines the perception of day: just as by day so by night, just as by night so by day. Thus, with an open and unenveloped mind, he develops a mind that is bright. This is the development of concentration that, when developed and cultivated, leads to the attainment of knowing and vision.
And what is the development of concentration that, when developed and cultivated, leads to mindfulness and full awareness? Here a disciple knows feelings as they arise, as they remain, and as they disappear; knows perceptions... knows thoughts as they arise, as they remain, and as they disappear. This is the development of concentration that, when developed and cultivated, leads to mindfulness and full awareness.
And what is the development of concentration that, when developed and cultivated, leads to the destruction of the taints? Here a disciple dwells contemplating the rise and fall in the five aggregates of clinging: Such is form, such is the arising of form, such is the passing away of form; such is feeling, such is the arising of feeling, such is the passing away of feeling; such is perception, such is the arising of perception, such is the passing away of perception; such are formations, such is the arising of formations, such is the passing away of formations; such is consciousness, such is the arising of consciousness, such is the passing away of consciousness. This is the development of concentration that, when developed and cultivated, leads to the destruction of the taints.
These are the four developments of concentration.
And this was said in reference to this in the Questions of Puṇṇaka in the Parayana: Having explored the world to its utmost ends, he finds nothing in the world that can shake him. Peaceful, free from greed, untroubled, and wishless, he has overcome birth and aging, I declare.