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Connected Discourses on Jhāna 1. Discourse on Attainment Rooted in Concentration At Sāvatthī. ‘‘There are these four meditators, bhikkhus. Which four? Here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is skilled in concentration, but not skilled in its attainment. Here again, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is skilled in its attainment, but not skilled in concentration. Here again, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is neither skilled in concentration, nor skilled in its attainment. Here again, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is skilled in concentration, and skilled in its attainment. Among these, bhikkhus, that meditator who is skilled in concentration and skilled in its attainment, is of these four meditators the foremost, the best, the chief, the highest, the most excellent. Just as, bhikkhus, from a cow, milk; from milk, curds; from curds, fresh butter; from fresh butter, ghee; from ghee, the cream of ghee is declared the best; Even so, bhikkhus, that meditator who is skilled in concentration and skilled in its attainment, is of these four meditators the foremost, the best, the chief, the highest, the most excellent.’’ The First. 2. Discourse on Steadiness Rooted in Concentration At Sāvatthī. ‘‘There are these four meditators, bhikkhus. Which four? Here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is skilled in concentration, but not skilled in its steadiness. Here again, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is skilled in its steadiness, but not skilled in concentration. Here again, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is neither skilled in concentration, nor skilled in its steadiness. Here again, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is skilled in concentration, and skilled in its steadiness. Among these, bhikkhus, that meditator who is skilled in concentration and skilled in its steadiness... and he is skilled in concentration, skilled in its steadfastness. This one among these four meditators is the chief, the best, the foremost, the highest, the most excellent. Just as, bhikkhus, from a cow, milk, from milk, curd, from curd, butter, from butter, ghee, from ghee, cream of ghee is said to be the best; even so, bhikkhus, this meditator who is skilled in concentration and skilled in its steadfastness, this one among these four meditators is the chief, the best, the foremost, the highest, the most excellent.” The Second. 3. The Discourse on Arising from Concentration as the Root 664. At Sāvatthī. “There are, bhikkhus, these four meditators. Which four? Here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is skilled in concentration, but not skilled in arising from concentration. Here again, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is skilled in arising from concentration, but not skilled in concentration. Here again, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is neither skilled in concentration nor skilled in arising from concentration. Here again, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is skilled in concentration and skilled in arising from concentration. Among these, bhikkhus, this meditator who is skilled in concentration and skilled in arising from concentration, this one among these four meditators is the chief, the best, the foremost, the highest, the most excellent. Just as, bhikkhus, from a cow, milk, from milk, curd, from curd, butter, from butter, ghee, from ghee, cream of ghee is said to be the best; even so, bhikkhus, this meditator who is skilled in concentration and skilled in arising from concentration, this one among these four meditators is the chief, the best, the foremost, the highest, the most excellent.” The Third. 4. The Discourse on the Readiness of Concentration as the Root 665. At Sāvatthī. “There are, bhikkhus, these four meditators. Which four? Here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is skilled in concentration, but not skilled in making it ready. Here again, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is skilled in making it ready, but not skilled in concentration. Here again, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is neither skilled in concentration nor skilled in making it ready. Here again, bhikkhus, a certain one meditator is skilled in concentration regarding concentration, and skilled in readiness regarding concentration. Among these, bhikkhus, this meditator who is skilled in concentration regarding concentration and skilled in readiness regarding concentration he is the foremost, the best, the chief, the highest, the most excellent of these four meditators. Just as, bhikkhus, from a cow, milk... ...the most excellent. The Fourth. 5. Discourse on the Basis of Concentration: Object 666. At Sāvatthī. "Bhikkhus, there are these four meditators. Which four? Here, bhikkhus, one meditator is skilled in concentration regarding concentration, but not skilled in the object regarding concentration. But here, bhikkhus, one meditator is skilled in the object regarding concentration, but not skilled in concentration regarding concentration. But here, bhikkhus, one meditator is neither skilled in concentration regarding concentration, nor skilled in the object regarding concentration. But here, bhikkhus, one meditator is skilled in concentration regarding concentration, and skilled in the object regarding concentration. Among these, bhikkhus, this meditator who is skilled in concentration regarding concentration and skilled in the object regarding concentration he is the foremost, the best, the chief, the highest, the most excellent of these four meditators. Just as, bhikkhus, from a cow, milk... ...the most excellent." The Fifth. 6. Discourse on the Basis of Concentration: Domain 667. At Sāvatthī. "Bhikkhus, there are these four meditators. Which four? Here, bhikkhus, one meditator is skilled in concentration regarding concentration, but not skilled in the domain regarding concentration. But here, bhikkhus, one meditator is skilled in the domain regarding concentration, but not skilled in concentration regarding concentration. But here, bhikkhus, one meditator is neither skilled in concentration regarding concentration, nor skilled in the domain regarding concentration. But here, bhikkhus, one meditator is skilled in concentration regarding concentration, and skilled in the domain regarding concentration. Among these, bhikkhus, this meditator who is skilled in concentration regarding concentration and is skilled in the range of concentration. This one among these four meditators is the foremost, the best, the chief, the highest, the most excellent. Just as, bhikkhus, from a cow, milk... ...most excellent. The Sixth. 7. The Discourse on Exertion Rooted in Concentration 668. At Sāvatthī. "There are, bhikkhus, these four meditators. Which four? Here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is skilled in concentration, but not skilled in exerting concentration. But here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is skilled in exerting concentration, but not skilled in concentration. But here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is neither skilled in concentration nor skilled in exerting concentration. But here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is both skilled in concentration and skilled in exerting concentration. Among these, bhikkhus, that meditator who is both skilled in concentration and skilled in exerting concentration, this one among these four meditators is the foremost, the best, the chief, the highest, the most excellent. Just as, bhikkhus, from a cow, milk... ...most excellent. The Seventh. 8. The Discourse on Diligence Rooted in Concentration 669. At Sāvatthī. "There are, bhikkhus, these four meditators. Which four? Here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is skilled in concentration, but not diligent in concentration. But here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is diligent in concentration, but not skilled in concentration. But here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is neither skilled in concentration nor diligent in concentration. But here, bhikkhus, a certain meditator is both skilled in concentration and diligent in concentration. Among these, bhikkhus, that meditator who is both skilled in concentration and diligent in concentration, this one among these four meditators is the foremost, the best, the chief, the highest, the most excellent. Just as, bhikkhus, from a cow, milk... he is the chief, the best, the foremost, the highest, and the most excellent. The Eighth. 9. Discourse on One Who Practices Continuously, Rooted in Concentration 670. At Sāvatthī. "Bhikkhus, there are these four meditators. Which four? Here, bhikkhus, some meditator is skilled in concentration, but not one who practices continuously in concentration. But here, bhikkhus, some meditator is one who practices continuously in concentration, but not skilled in concentration. But here, bhikkhus, some meditator is neither skilled in concentration, nor one who practices continuously in concentration. But here, bhikkhus, some meditator is both skilled in concentration, and one who practices continuously in concentration. Among these, bhikkhus, that meditator who is both skilled in concentration and one who practices continuously in concentration, he is the chief, the best, the foremost, the highest, and the most excellent of these four meditators. Just as, bhikkhus, from a cow, milk... he is the chief, the best, the foremost, the highest, and the most excellent. The Ninth. 10. Discourse on One Who Practices Appropriately, Rooted in Concentration 671. At Sāvatthī. "Bhikkhus, there are these four meditators. Which four? Here, bhikkhus, some meditator is skilled in concentration, but not one who practices appropriately in concentration. But here, bhikkhus, some meditator is one who practices appropriately in concentration, but not skilled in concentration. But here, bhikkhus, some meditator is neither skilled in concentration, nor one who practices appropriately in concentration. But here, bhikkhus, some meditator is both skilled in concentration, and one who practices appropriately in concentration. Among these, bhikkhus, that meditator who is both skilled in concentration and one who practices appropriately in concentration,