1Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Venerable Sāriputta … and said to him:

"Why is it, friend Sāriputta, that some beings do not attain nibbāna in this very life?"

2"Here, friend Ānanda, some beings do not understand as it really is: ‘These perceptions pertain to deterioration; these perceptions pertain to stabilization; these perceptions pertain to distinction; these perceptions pertain to penetration.’ This is why some beings here do not attain nibbāna in this very life.

3"Why is it, friend Sāriputta, that some beings here attain nibbāna in this very life?"

"Here, friend Ānanda, some beings understand as it really is: ‘These perceptions pertain to deterioration; these perceptions pertain to stabilization; these perceptions pertain to distinction; these perceptions pertain to penetration.’ This is why some beings here attain nibbāna in this very life." [n.890] These are explained at Vibh 330–31 (Be §799), though in terms of wisdom (paññā). I quote only the text on the first jhāna: "When perception and attention are accompanied by sensuality in one who attains the first jhāna, wisdom pertains to deterioration; when mindfulness is stabilized in accordance with its nature, wisdom pertains to stabilization; when perception and attention are unaccompanied by thought, wisdom pertains to distinction. When perception and attention are accompanied by disenchantment, conjoined with dispassion, wisdom pertains to penetration" (paṭhamassa jhānassa lābhiṁ kāmasahagatā saññāmanasikārā samudācaranti hānabhāginī paññā; tadanudhammatā sati santiṭṭhati ṭhitibhāginī paññā; avitakkasahagatā saññāmanasikārā samudācaranti visesabhāginī paññā; nibbidāsahagatā saññāmanasikārā samudācaranti virāgupasaṁhitā nibbedhabhāginī paññā). Similar distinctions are made for each of the higher attainments.

1Atha kho āyasmā ānando yenāyasmā sāriputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā sāriputtena saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavoca:

"ko nu kho, āvuso sāriputta, hetu ko paccayo, yena midhekacce sattā diṭṭheva dhamme na parinibbāyantī"ti?

2"Idhāvuso ānanda, sattā imā hānabhāgiyā saññāti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti, imā ṭhitibhāgiyā saññāti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti, imā visesabhāgiyā saññāti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti, imā nibbedhabhāgiyā saññāti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti. Ayaṁ kho, āvuso ānanda, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacce sattā diṭṭheva dhamme na parinibbāyantī"ti.

3"Ko panāvuso sāriputta, hetu ko paccayo, yena midhekacce sattā diṭṭheva dhamme parinibbāyantī"ti?

"Idhāvuso ānanda, sattā imā hānabhāgiyā saññāti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti, imā ṭhitibhāgiyā saññāti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti, imā visesabhāgiyā saññāti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti, imā nibbedhabhāgiyā saññāti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti. Ayaṁ kho, āvuso ānanda, hetu ayaṁ paccayo, yena midhekacce sattā diṭṭheva dhamme parinibbāyantī"ti.

Navamaṁ.