“These two things play a part in realization.
What two?
Serenity and discernment.
What is the benefit of developing serenity?
The mind is developed.
What is the benefit of developing the mind?
Greed is given up.
What is the benefit of developing discernment?
Wisdom is developed.
What is the benefit of developing wisdom?
Ignorance is given up.
The mind contaminated (tainted) by greed is not free; and wisdom contaminated (tainted) by ignorance does not grow.
In this way, freedom of mind comes from the fading away of greed, while freedom by wisdom comes from the fading away of ignorance.”
The words serenity and discernment come from the Pali words Samatho and vipassanā respectively. There are alternate words used by different translations for these two:
- Samatho ~ Serenity, Calm, Tranquility, Collectedness, Immersion, Absorption, Concentration
- Vipassanā ~ Discernment, Insight
Similarly, the word greed and ignorance comes from the words rāgo and avijjā respectively. There are different translations for this:
- rāgo ~ Greed, passion, attachment, lust
- avijjā ~ Ignorance, delusion, not knowing of true reality, misapprehension/misconceiving of true reality
Cultivation of jhānas (right concentration) and abiding in them is the practice of cultivation of serenity. Reflecting on the impermanence, discontent, and not-self nature of observed phenomena while abiding in jhāna is the cultivation of insight.
Note that the Buddha doesn’t teach serenity without discernment, or discernment without serenity. Rather, both practices are developed in tandem.
Related Teachings:
- Gradual training, gradual practice and gradual progress (MN 107) - A gradual training guideline to be trained as cultivation of habits, that leads to cultivation of jhānas.
- Teachings on Living Beings and the Five Aggregates - Understanding phenomena through the five aggregates enables one to cultivate insight into cultivating wisdom, and for fading of any misapprehensions of true reality.
- Properly Appraising Objects of Attachment (MN 13) - While abiding in jhānas, reflecting on the drawbacks of all phenomena one observes for any of the five aggregates enables cultivation of insight, and leads to escape (non-clinging) of the aggregates.