To the one in jhāna—
seated, dustless, passionless, his task done, effluent-free,
gone to the beyond of all phenomena—
I’ve come with a desire for a question.
Tell me the gnosis of emancipation, the breaking open of ignorance.
The Buddha:
The abandoning both of sensual desires, & of unhappiness,
the dispelling of sloth, the warding off of anxieties,
equanimity-&-mindfulness purified, with inspection of mental qualities swift in the forefront:
That I call the gnosis of emancipation, the breaking open of ignorance.
Udaya:
With what is the world fettered?
With what is it examined?
Through the abandoning of what is there said to be unbinding?
The Buddha:
With delight the world’s fettered.
With directed thought it’s examined.
Through the abandoning of craving is there said to be unbinding.
Udaya:
Living mindful in what way does one bring consciousness to a halt?
We’ve come to ask the Blessed One.
Let us hear your words.
The Buddha:
Not relishing feeling, inside or out:
One living mindful in this way brings consciousness to a halt.
