[The Buddha:] O disciples, these four kinds of persons are found existing in the world. What four?
1. Here within this teaching, disciples, some person enters and dwells in the first meditative absorption [
jhana or zen,
a profound purifying level of concentration], which is accompanied by initial and sustained application of mind [to a single object], experiencing rapture and happiness born of seclusion [mental and physical withdrawal].
One relishes it, longs for it, and is satisfied in it, having mastered it, resolved on it, and become able to dwell in it at will without falling away from it. On passing away [while holding this profoundly wholesome state, as a result] one is reborn in the company of
devas ["shining ones"] in Maha Brahma's Retinue [with a lifespan that depends on the degree of mastery of the first absorption, either a third, a half, or a full aeon corresponding to inferior, intermediate, or superior mastery].
The lifespan of those
devas is one aeon (
kalpa). The ordinary [uninstructed] worldling remains there for the full lifespan [until the extremely profitable karma of this absorption that led to rebirth there is exhausted]. After completing the lifespan there
, one is reborn in a hellish state, the animal realm, or the world of ghosts.
But the disciple of the Blessed One [the Buddha] remains there for the full lifespan. After completing the lifespan there [and having at some point successfully completed the requisite insight practices], one attains final nirvana. Disciples, this is the distinction, the disparity, the difference between the instructed worldling in regard to destination and rebirth.
2. Furthermore, disciples, some person within this teaching [Dharma], with the subsiding of initial and sustained application of mind, enters and dwells in the second meditative absorption. That attainment is characterized by the subsiding of
discursive [distracted] thinking and a superior bliss born of concentration [
samadhi, calm, collected intensification of mind], filled with rapture and joy [
sukha].
One relishes it, longs for it, and is satisfied in it, having mastered it, resolved on it, and become able to dwell in it at will without falling away from it. On passing away [while holding this state], one is reborn in the company of
devas of Streaming Radiance.
The lifespan of those
devas is two aeons. The ordinary worldling remains there for the full lifespan. After completing the lifespan there, one is reborn in a hellish state, the animal realm, or the world of ghosts.
But the disciple of the Blessed One remains there for the full lifespan then attains final nirvana. Disciples, this is the distinction...in regard to destination and rebirth.
3. Disciples, some person within this teaching, with the fading away as well of rapture dwells equanimous [impartial, unbiased, settled, and serene]. Mindful and clearly comprehending, one experiences happiness throughout the body: One attains and dwells in the third meditative absorption of which the Noble Ones say: "Happy indeed is the person who lives mindful and equanimous!"
One relishes it, longs for it, and is satisfied in it, having mastered it, resolved on it, and become able to dwell in it at will without falling away from it. On passing away [while holding this state], one is reborn in the company of
devas of Resplendent Glory (
Abhassara deva).
The lifespan there is four aeons. The [ordinary, uninstructed] worldling reamins there for the full lifespan. After completing the lifespan there, one goes to a hellish state, or the animal realm, or the world of ghosts.
But the disciple of the Blessed One remains there for the full lifespan then attains final nirvana. This, disciples, is the distinction, the disparity, the difference between the instructed noble disciple and the uninstructed worldling in regard to destination and rebirth.
4. Finally, disciples some here within this teaching, with the abandoning of pleasure and pain, and the previous falling away of gladness (
sukha) and sadness, enters and dwells in the fourth meditative absorption, which is neither painful nor pleasant and includes the purification of mindfulness by equanimity.
One relishes it, longs for it, and is satisfied in it, having mastered it, resolved on it, and become able to dwell in it at will without falling away from it. On passing away [while holding this state], one is reborn in the company of
devas of Great Fruit.
The lifespan there is 500 aeons. The ordinary worldling remains there for the full lifespan. After that, one is reborn in a hellish state, the animal realm, or the world of ghosts.
But the disciple of the Blessed One remains there for the full lifespan then attains final nirvana. Disciples, this is the distinction, the disparity, the difference between the instructed noble disciple and the uninstructed worldling in regard to destination and rebirth.
These are the four kinds of persons found existing in the world. [Discourse AN IV, 125 follows this pattern according to the Four Divine Abidings (
Brahma Viharas) with the liberation of mind/heart by loving-kindness being correlated with the first meditative absorption. AN III, 114 follows this pattern according to the first three of the four formless attainments corresponding to the eight total absorptions.]
*NOTE: Bhikkhu Bodhi explains that according to the commentary to this text, The difference between non-disciples and disciples of the Buddha born in this heavenly state is that, while the worldling might move on to an unfortunate destination, even one of the hells, the noble disciple who is a trainee does not descend lower by way of rebirth but attains final nirvana in that same form becoming (or) later in a certain brahma-world in the second or third existence, etc. The ordinary worldling might go to one of the hells after a sequence of lives, but not in the very next life. According to the Abhidharma, existence in the fine-material sphere (rupa loka) cannot be followed immediately by rebirth in the plane of misery (the four unfortunate states collectively). Therefore such a deva, on passing away from the fine-material sphere, might be reborn in the human world (the lowest of the fortunate destinations), where one might then commit unprofitable deeds that lead to rebirth in the lower (subhuman) worlds.
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