Sutta MN 36, the Mahasaccaka Sutta ("The Greater Discourse to Saccaka"), provides critical evidence that the Buddha did not rely on absorption jhanas ('samatha' jhana) to achieve enlightenment. Instead, it highlights his discovery of a balanced approach, which aligns closely with the practice of a different kind of jhana: The Tranquil Aware Jhana.
MN 36 and the Buddha's Path
In MN 36, the Buddha recounts his early experiments with extreme asceticism and traditional meditative absorption techniques under his teachers Āḷara Kālāma and Uddaka Ramaputta. These practices brought him to high levels of absorption but left him dissatisfied, as they did not lead to the ultimate cessation of suffering:
Rejection of Absorption Jhanas: The Buddha described attaining the immaterial absorptions, such as the base of nothingness and the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception. While these states offered deep concentration and stillness, they were temporary and did not uproot craving (tanha) or lead to nibbana.
The Middle Way: After abandoning extreme asceticism and absorption-based practices, the Buddha realized that a balanced path—neither indulgence in sensual pleasures nor extreme self-mortification—was necessary. This insight marked the beginning of the practice that would later be articulated as the Noble Eightfold Path.
Discovery of Tranquil Aware Jhana: MN 36 describes the Buddha reflecting on his childhood experience under the rose-apple tree, where he naturally entered a state of calm and joyful meditation. This spontaneous state was marked by mindfulness, tranquility, and awareness, without the rigid absorption of traditional jhanas. He realized that this state of meditation could be cultivated intentionally as part of the path to awakening.
Distinction Between Absorption and Tranquil Aware Jhana
The key difference lies in how the mind operates within these states:
Absorption Jhana focuses on deep, fixed concentration and often leads to suppression of external awareness. The Buddha recognized that while these states are peaceful, they are insufficient for developing the insight required to eliminate ignorance (avijja).
Tranquil Aware Jhana, as rediscovered by the Buddha, combines tranquility with continuous awareness. This balance allows the meditator to see the arising and passing away of phenomena, directly experiencing the principles of dependent origination and impermanence (anicca).
Key Comparisons
Aspect | Concentration Jhana | Tranquil Aware Jhana |
Focus | Fixed and intense | Open and relaxed |
Awareness | Suppressed external stimuli | Engaged with awareness |
Insight into Dhamma | Limited, due to clinging | Encourages insight into impermanence and dependent origination |
Craving | Can lead to attachment | Reduces craving through understanding. |
Proof Against Absorption Jhanas for Enlightenment
The Buddha explicitly states in MN 36 that he abandoned absorption practices because they did not lead to the cessation of suffering. Instead, it was the practice of mindfulness and the cultivation of insight through a tranquil yet aware meditative state that brought about his enlightenment.
Bhante Vimalaramsi and David Johnson further emphasize this distinction, arguing that the Buddha’s own words and practices, as described in the suttas, validate the Tranquil Aware Jhana as a more effective path to awakening. Absorption jhanas, while peaceful, often lead to attachment and fail to address the root causes of suffering.
Conclusion
MN 36 is a cornerstone sutta that demonstrates the Buddha’s departure from traditional meditative practices, including absorption jhanas. His rediscovery of a natural, balanced meditative state—marked by mindfulness, joy, and tranquility—laid the foundation for the Tranquil Aware Jhana. This practice, as highlighted in Bhante Vimalaramsi's teachings and The Path to Nibbana, serves as a practical and direct means to liberation.
David Johnson along with my chatgpt friend: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-itFqgIRe0-twimbot-practicing-t-w-i-m-lovingkindness
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