{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn40.1/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn40.1","id":"suttacentral_sn40.1","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn40.1/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"At one time Venerable Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na was staying near S\u0101vatth\u012b in Jeta\u2019s Grove, An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\u2019s monastery. There Venerable Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na addressed the mendicants: \u201cReverends, mendicants!\u201d \u201cReverend,\u201d they replied. Venerable Mah\u0101moggall\u0101na said this: \u201cJust now, reverends, as I was in private retreat this thought came to mind: \u2018They speak of this thing called the \u201cfirst absorption\u201d. What is the first absorption?\u2019 It occurred to me: \u2018It\u2019s when a mendicant, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. This is called the first absorption.\u2019 And so \u2026 I was entering and remaining in the first absorption. While I was in that meditation, perception and focus accompanied by sensual pleasures beset me. Then the Buddha came up to me with his psychic power and said, \u2018Moggall\u0101na, Moggall\u0101na! Don\u2019t neglect the first absorption, brahmin! Settle your mind in the first absorption; unify your mind and immerse it in the first absorption.\u2019 And so, after some time \u2026 I entered and remained in the first absorption. So if anyone should be rightly called a disciple who attained to great direct knowledge with help from the Teacher, it\u2019s me.\u201d","title":"A Question About the First Absorption","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":205}