1.
The Discourse on the Question about the First Meditative Absorption
332.
On one occasion the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park.
There the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna addressed the monks:
"Friends, monks!"
"Friend," those monks assented to the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna.
The Venerable Mahāmoggallāna said this:
"Here, friends, when I had gone to a private place and was in seclusion, this reflection arose in my mind - 'The first meditative absorption, the first meditative absorption,' it is said. What then is the first meditative absorption? This occurred to me, friend - 'Here a monk, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome mental states, enters and dwells in the first meditative absorption, which is accompanied by applied thought and sustained thought, with rapture and happiness born of seclusion. This is called the first meditative absorption.' So I, friends, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome mental states, enter and dwell in the first meditative absorption, which is accompanied by applied thought and sustained thought, with rapture and happiness born of seclusion. While I was dwelling with this abiding, friends, perceptions and attention accompanied by sensuality occurred to me.
"Then, friends, the Blessed One, having approached me by supernormal power, said this: 'Moggallāna, Moggallāna! Do not be negligent, brahmin, regarding the first meditative absorption; steady your mind in the first meditative absorption, unify your mind in the first meditative absorption, concentrate your mind in the first meditative absorption.' So I, friends, at a later time, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome mental states, entered and dwelt in the first meditative absorption, which is accompanied by applied thought and sustained thought, with rapture and happiness born of seclusion. If anyone, friends, speaking rightly would say: 'A disciple helped by the Teacher has attained great direct knowledge,' it is of me that one speaking rightly would say: 'A disciple helped by the Teacher has attained great direct knowledge.'" The first.