Table of Contents

  • Synopsis
    • AN 4.29 Dhamma-pada
      • (1. An-abhijjhā: non-greed)
      • (2. a-byāpādo: non-ill-will)
      • (3. Sammā-sati: right-mindfulness)
      • (4. Sammā-samādhi: righteous-undistractable-lucidity)
      • (verse)
    • AN 4.29 condensed version
      • (verse)

Synopsis

.
 .
samma samadhi is referenced but not explicitly defined, unless we take the description in the verse, which would match samadhi-indriya definition of SN 48.9 (obtains samadhi, obtains ekagga citta)
The verse, and even the prose, reads like quick summary of the way into the 4j (jhānas).
The first jhana’s “vivicceva kamehi” (seclusion from sensual pleasures) matches (1) non-greed.
The first jhana’s “vivicca akusalehi dhammehi” (seclusion from unskillful qualities) is exemplified by the (2) non-ill-will
well developed (3) right mindfulness and (4) samma samadhi takes you into the 4j.
That takes are of the citta/mental portion of passadhi-bojjhanga (pacification-awakening factor).
All that this missing is the kāya (body) portion of passadhi-bojjhanga.
Once you learn how to deeply relax the body, it lights the fuse of the jhāna dynamite.

AN 4.29 Dhamma-pada

Dhamma-pada-suttaṃ n (AN 4.29)
 AN 4.29 Dhamma foot-steps discourse
♦ 29. “cattār-imāni, bhikkhave, dhammapadāni
 “Monks, there are these four Dhamma foot steps,
aggaññāni rattaññāni
 primal, of long standing,
vaṃsaññāni porāṇāni
 traditional, ancient,
a-saṃkiṇṇāni a-saṃkiṇṇa-pubbāni,
 un-mixed and never before mixed [with impurities],
na saṃkīyanti na saṃkīyissanti,
 which are not being mixed and will not be mixed,
ap-paṭikuṭṭhāni samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
 which are not repudiated by wise ascetics and brahmins.
katamāni cattāri?
 Which four?

(1. An-abhijjhā: non-greed)

anabhijjhā, bhikkhave, dhammapadaṃ
 (1) “Non-longing is a Dhamma footstep,
aggaññaṃ rattaññaṃ
 primal, of long standing,
vaṃsaññaṃ porāṇaṃ
 traditional, ancient,
asaṃkiṇṇaṃ asaṃkiṇṇapubbaṃ,
 un-mixed and never before mixed [with impurities],
na saṃkīyati na saṃkīyissati,
 which are not being mixed and will not be mixed,
appaṭikuṭṭhaṃ samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
 which are not repudiated by wise ascetics and brahmins.

(2. a-byāpādo: non-ill-will)

♦ “abyāpādo, bhikkhave, dhammapadaṃ
 (2) Good will is a Dhamma footstep,
aggaññaṃ rattaññaṃ
 primal, of long standing,
vaṃsaññaṃ porāṇaṃ
 traditional, ancient,
asaṃkiṇṇaṃ asaṃkiṇṇapubbaṃ,
 un-mixed and never before mixed [with impurities],
na saṃkīyati na saṃkīyissati,
 which are not being mixed and will not be mixed,
appaṭikuṭṭhaṃ samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
 which are not repudiated by wise ascetics and brahmins.

(3. Sammā-sati: right-mindfulness)

♦ “sammāsati, bhikkhave, dhammapadaṃ
 (3) Right mindfulness is a Dhamma footstep,
aggaññaṃ rattaññaṃ
 primal, of long standing,
vaṃsaññaṃ porāṇaṃ
 traditional, ancient,
asaṃkiṇṇaṃ asaṃkiṇṇapubbaṃ,
 un-mixed and never before mixed [with impurities],
na saṃkīyati na saṃkīyissati,
 which are not being mixed and will not be mixed,
appaṭikuṭṭhaṃ samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
 which are not repudiated by wise ascetics and brahmins.

(4. Sammā-samādhi: righteous-undistractable-lucidity)

♦ “sammā-samādhi, bhikkhave, dhammapadaṃ
 (4) Righteous-undistractable-lucidity is a Dhamma footstep,
aggaññaṃ rattaññaṃ
 primal, of long standing,
vaṃsaññaṃ porāṇaṃ
 traditional, ancient,
asaṃkiṇṇaṃ asaṃkiṇṇapubbaṃ,
 un-mixed and never before mixed [with impurities],
na saṃkīyati na saṃkīyissati,
 which are not being mixed and will not be mixed,
appaṭikuṭṭhaṃ samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
 which are not repudiated by wise ascetics and brahmins.
imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri dhammapadāni
 “These are the four Dhamma foot-steps,
aggaññāni rattaññāni
 primal, of long standing,
vaṃsaññāni porāṇāni
 traditional, ancient,
a-saṃkiṇṇāni a-saṃkiṇṇa-pubbāni,
 un-mixed and never before mixed [with impurities],
na saṃkīyanti na saṃkīyissanti,
 which are not being mixed and will not be mixed,
ap-paṭikuṭṭhāni samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
 which are not repudiated by wise ascetics and brahmins.
”ti.

(verse)

♦ “an-abhijjhālu vihareyya,
 free-(from)-longing (one) should-dwell,
A-byāpannena cetasā.
 no-ill-will (in) mind.
♦ sato ekagga-cittassa,
 mindful, singular-mind,
ajjhattaṃ su-samāhito”ti.
 internally, thoroughly,-undistractably-lucid [samādhi].
navamaṃ.
 (end of sutta)

AN 4.29 condensed version

Dhamma-pada-suttaṃ n (AN 4.29)
 AN 4.29 Dhamma foot-steps discourse
♦ 29. “cattār-imāni, bhikkhave, dhammapadāni
 “Monks, there are these four Dhamma foot steps,
aggaññāni rattaññāni
 primal, of long standing,
vaṃsaññāni porāṇāni
 traditional, ancient,
a-saṃkiṇṇāni a-saṃkiṇṇa-pubbāni,
 un-mixed and never before mixed [with impurities],
na saṃkīyanti na saṃkīyissanti,
 which are not being mixed and will not be mixed,
ap-paṭikuṭṭhāni samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
 which are not repudiated by wise ascetics and brahmins.
katamāni cattāri?
 Which four?
anabhijjhā, bhikkhave, dhammapadaṃ
 (1) “Non-longing is a Dhamma footstep,
primal, ... not repudiated ... by wise ... brahmins.
♦ “abyāpādo, bhikkhave, dhammapadaṃ
 (2) Good will is a Dhamma footstep,
primal, ... not repudiated ... by wise ... brahmins.
♦ “sammāsati, bhikkhave, dhammapadaṃ
 (3) Right mindfulness is a Dhamma footstep,
primal, ... not repudiated ... by wise ... brahmins.
♦ “sammā-samādhi, bhikkhave, dhammapadaṃ
 (4) Righteous-undistractable-lucidity is a Dhamma footstep,
primal, ... not repudiated ... by wise ... brahmins.
(...opening statement repeated as closing statement…)
ap-paṭikuṭṭhāni samaṇehi brāhmaṇehi viññūhi.
 which are not repudiated by wise ascetics and brahmins.

(verse)

♦ “an-abhijjhālu vihareyya,
 free-(from)-longing (one) should-dwell,
A-byāpannena cetasā.
 no-ill-will (in) mind.
♦ sato ekagga-cittassa,
 mindful, singular-mind,
ajjhattaṃ su-samāhito”ti.
 internally, thoroughly,-undistractably-lucid [samādhi].