Pre- and Inter-jhānic Levels of Samādhi in Saṃkhitta Sutta (AN 8.63)

This is an edited version of a talk given by Āyasmā Aggacitta in Buddhist Gem Fellowship on Monday 18 December 2023. Here Āyasmā Aggacitta cites passages from the Saṃkhitta Sutta (AN 8.63) to highlight the Pre- and Inter-jhānic Levels of Samādhi. As usual his well structured arguments are solidly based on the Pāḷi suttas and practical experience, with significant impact on Dhamma practice.
00:00 Opening
00:08 Introduction: Samādhi as commonly understood and otherwise
01:44 Overview of this talk
02:23 A constructive critique of Saṃkhitta Sutta (AN 8.63)
07:15 The first level of composure
07:27 The meaning of samādhi
09:54 Must a brahmavihāra be developed only when the preceding one(s) has(have) been fully developed?
10:34 An alternative interpretation of how to develop the 4 brahmavihāras and 4 satipaṭṭhānas not necessarily sequentially
14:05 How the Dhamma was transmitted during the Buddha's time
15:32 Why we take refuge in the bhikkhusaṅgha and NOT the ariyasaṅgha
16:25 Dichotomy between scholars and meditators in Mahācunda Sutta (AN 6.46)
18:16 Tabulation of Levels of Samādhi
19:21 The 4 steps of samatha practice
20:27 Mental states in the first jhāna
21:08 Pre-jhānic samādhi
23:15 The gross nature of rapture (pīti)
24:30 Two other mental states in the first jhāna
25:20 Pīti and sukha born of seclusion
26:30 Inter-jhānic samādhi
28:05 Bhante Aggacitta’s classification of samādhi into 3 stages
29:48 Ways of Attaining Samādhi
29:55 5 ways of getting composed in Vimuttāyatana Sutta (AN 5.26)
30:26 By listening to the Dhamma
31:10 By teaching to the Dhamma
32:20 By reciting the Dhamma
35:50 By reflecting on the Dhamma
36:14 By grasping on to the object of meditation
36:44 Composure attained while listening to the Dhamma is sufficient for awakening (Āvaraṇanīvaraṇa Sutta SN 46.38)
38:34 Story of Yasa’s stream-entry
39:03 Jhāna is required for stream-entry
39:30 Nature of thoughts in the first jhāna
40:15 4 types of development of samādhi
40:51 Goal of developing jhāna
40:56 Goal of developing perception of light
41:06 Goal of developing awareness of feelings, thoughts and perceptions
41:22 Goal of developing repeated observation of the 5 aggregates
41:44 How the different types of samādhi overlap
43:14 The 5 aggregates can be observed in the ultimate sense only when there are no more thoughts
46:17 Conclusion
47:23 End
Dhamma in Brief • Dhamma in Brief NDR 20...

[@fodizi-sq4jq]

Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu Bhante, thank you very much for the detailed talk with the structure above. Also, thank you to the laity who'd prepared the subtitles for some of the Pali terms. Really appreciate it!

[@marka2188]

Thank you for posting this. He beautifully explains the way to combine samatha and vipassana into one meditation.

[@simonooi2544]

Indeed very true. He is one of the best teachers around. Very hardworking, precise and smart too.
Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu,
🙏🙏🙏

[@bahadursunny1674]

Sadhu sadhu🙏🙏🙏🙏... Also....Excellent computer work 🙏🙏🙏

[@UKYin0369]

Thanks Bhante🙇‍♀️
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🌺🇲🇾