The Ganges River slants, slopes, and inclines to the east. In the same way, a mendicant who develops and cultivates the four absorptions slants, slopes, and inclines to extinguishment. And how does a mendicant who develops and cultivates the four absorptions slant, slope, and incline to extinguishment? It’s when a mendicant, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, they enter and remain in the second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption. That’s how a mendicant who develops and cultivates the four absorptions slants, slopes, and inclines to extinguishment.”

Six on slanting to the east, and six on slanting to the ocean; these two sixes make twelve, and that’s how this chapter is recited.

Linked Discourses 53.13–22 2. Diligence Diligence

(Tell in full as in the chapter on diligence at SN 45.139–148.)

The Realized One, footprint, roof peak, roots, heartwood, jasmine, monarch, sun and moon, and cloth is the tenth.

Linked Discourses 53.23–34 3. Hard Work Hard Work

(Tell in full as in the chapter on hard work at SN 45.149–160.)

Hard work, seeds, and dragons, a tree, a pot, and a spike, the atmosphere, and two on clouds, a ship, a guest house, and a river.

Linked Discourses 53.35–44 4. Searches Searches

(Tell in full as in the chapter on searches at SN 45.161–170.)

Searches, discriminations, defilements, states of existence, three kinds of suffering, barrenness, stains, and troubles, feelings, craving, and thirst.

Linked Discourses 53.45–54 5. Floods Floods, etc.

“Mendicants, there are five higher fetters. What five? Desire for rebirth in the realm of luminous form, desire for rebirth in the formless realm, conceit, restlessness, and ignorance. These are the five higher fetters. The four absorptions should be developed for the direct knowledge, complete understanding, finishing, and giving up of these five higher fetters. What four? It’s when a mendicant enters and remains in the first absorption … second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption. These four absorptions should be developed for the direct knowledge, complete understanding, finishing, and giving up of these five higher fetters.” (Tell in full as in the Linked Discourses on the Path at SN 45.171–180.)

Floods, yokes, grasping, ties, and underlying tendencies, kinds of sensual stimulation, hindrances, aggregates, and fetters high and low. The Linked Discourses on Absorption, the ninth section.

Linked Discourses 54.1 1. One Thing One Thing