Without giving up these five things, one is incapable of entering and abiding in the first jhāna (AN 5.256)

The Buddha explains that one is incapable of entering and abiding in the first jhana without giving up these five things.

Under Mannen Bridge [ja] at Fukagawa, Hokusai, c. 1830-1832

“Bhikkhus, without giving up [1] these five things, one is incapable of entering and abiding in the first jhāna. What are the five?

1. Stinginess [2] regarding dwelling place (residence, home [āvāsa]), 2) stinginess regarding supporting families, 3) stinginess regarding acquisitions [3], 4) stinginess regarding praise (approval [vaṇṇa]), and 5) stinginess regarding the Dhamma [4]. These, bhikkhus, are the five things that, without giving up, one is incapable of entering and abiding in the first jhāna.

Bhikkhus, by giving up these five things, one is capable of entering and abiding in the first jhāna. What are the five?

1. Stinginess regarding dwelling place, 2) stinginess regarding supporting families, 3) stinginess regarding acquisitions, 4) stinginess regarding praise, and 5) stinginess regarding the Dhamma. These, bhikkhus, are the five things that, by giving up, one is capable of entering and abiding in the first jhāna.”

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[1] giving up [pahāna] ≈ letting go, abandoning, removing

[2] Stinginess [macchariya] ≈ selfishness, meanness, tight-fistedness

[3] acquisitions [lābha] ≈ gain, money, profit, possessions

[4] Dhamma [dhamma] ≈ teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth

Related Teachings:

• Six Qualities to Abandon To Dwell in the first jhāna (AN 6.74) - Six qualities to abandon to dwell in the first jhāna - 1) thoughts of sensual desire, 2) thoughts of ill will, 3) thoughts of harm, 4) perception of sensual desire, 5) perception of ill will, 6) perception of harm.
• Way of Practice to Cultivate the Four Jhānas | In the Buddha's Words [Learning Resource]