Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

[418] THE PATH OF FREEDOMFASCICLE THE FIFTHWRITTENBYTHE ARAHANT UPATISSAWHO WAS CALLEDGREAT LIGHT IN RYOTRANSLATED IN RYOBYTIPITAKA SANGHAPALA OF FUNANCHAPTER THE EIGHTHSection TwoHere I show how to get the second meditation, jhdna. I consider the tribulationof the first meditation, jhdna, and the benefits of the second meditation,jhdna. 1THE SIMILE OF THE YOUNG COWNow, the yogin who practises the first meditation, jhdna, with facilitywishes to cause the arising of the second meditation, jhdna. Why ? If theyogin is not able to practise the first meditation, jhdna, with facility, thoughhe wishes to remove initial and sustained application of thought and attain tothe second meditation, jhdna, he falls back and is not able to enter the secondmeditation, jhdna. Further, he cannot re-enter the first meditation, jhdna.Hence the Blessed One taught the simile of the young mountain cow which,being foolish, knows not good pasturage, and which, though inexperienced,wanders to a far off precipitous place. She thinks: "How, if I were to enterthe place I never entered before, eat the grass I never ate before and drink thewater I never drank before"? Without planting her fore leg firmly, she raisesher hind leg, becomes restless and is not able to go forwaid. And not beingable to enter the place she never entered before, eat the grass she never ate before,drink the water she never drank before, she thinks thus: "I cannot go forward.I must return to the old pasturage". 21. The passage in italics does not occur in the Sung Dynasty edition in the library of theJapanese Imperial household. This applies to all passages in italics in Section Two ofChapter Eight.2. This passage does not occur in the Chinese Ekottara Agama. A. IV, 418: Seyyathdpi bhikkhave gdvi pabbateyyd bald avyattd akhettahmi akusald visame pabbate caritum,tassd evam assa 'yan nundharh agatapubbah ceva disam gaccheyyath, akhdditapubbdni99