9. Analysis of the Bases of Accomplishment

1. Analysis According to the Discourses

The four bases of accomplishment—Herein a bhikkhu develops the basis of accomplishment furnished with “wish-concentration, striving-activity”; develops the basis of accomplishment furnished with “energy-concentration, striving-activity”; develops the basis of accomplishment furnished with “consciousness-concentration, striving-activity”; develops the basis of accomplishment furnished with “reason-concentration, striving-activity”.

1. Wish as the Basis of Accomplishment

And how does a bhikkhu develop the basis of accomplishment furnished with “wish-concentration, striving-activity”? If a bhikkhu, having made wish dominant, gains concentration; gains one-pointedness of consciousness. This is called “wish-concentration”. He engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the non-arising of evil bad states that have not arisen; engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the abandoning of evil bad states that have arisen; engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the arising of good states that have not arisen; engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the stabilizing, for the collocation, for the increase, for the maturity, for the development, for the completion of good states that have arisen. These are called “striving-activity”. Thus this “wish-concentration” and this “striving-activity”, these taken together collectively and briefly go by the name “wish-concentration, striving-activity”.

Therein what is wish? That which is wish, act of wishing, desire to do, good righteous wish. This is called wish.

Therein what is concentration? That which is stability, steadfastness, firmness of consciousness; non-distraction, non-wavering, mental imperturbability, calmness, controlling faculty of concentration, power of concentration, right concentration. This is called concentration.

Therein what is “striving-activity”? That which is the arousing of mental energy, toiling, endeavour, aspiring, effort, zeal, perseverance, vigour, stability, unfaltering endeavour, not relinquishing wish, not relinquishing the task, firm hold of the task, energy, controlling faculty of energy, power of energy, right effort. This is called “striving-activity”. Thus of this wish, of this concentration and of this “striving-activity” he is possessed, well possessed, attained, well attained, endowed, well endowed, furnished. Therefore this is called “furnished with `wish-concentration, striving-activity”'.

“Accomplishment” means: That which of these states is accomplishment, full accomplishment, act of accomplishing, act of accomplishing fully, gaining, gaining repeatedly, acquiring, acquiring well, contacting, realization, achievement.

“The basis of accomplishment” means: The aggregate of feeling, aggregate of perception, aggregate of mental concomitants, aggregate of consciousness of one (in whom the accomplishments have) come to be in the aforesaid manner.

2. Energy as the Basis of Accomplishment

And how does a bhikkhu develop the basis of accomplishment furnished with “energy-concentration, striving-activity”? If a bhikkhu, having made energy dominant, gains concentration; gains one-pointedness of consciousness. This is called “energy-concentration”. He engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the non-arising of evil bad states that have not arisen; for the abandoning of evil bad states that have arisen; for the arising of good states that have not arisen; engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the stabilizing, for the collocation, for the increase, for | the maturity, for the development, for the completion of good states that have arisen. These are called “striving-activity”. Thus this “energy-concentration” and this “striving-activity”, these taken together collectively and briefly go by the name “energy-concentration, striving-activity”.

* Complete as first example.

Therein what is energy? That which is the arousing of mental energy,* right effort. This is called energy.

* See paragraph 220.

Therein what is concentration? That which is stability, steadfastness, firmness of consciousness; non-distraction, non-wavering, mental imperturbability, calmness, controlling faculty of concentration, power of concentration, right concentration. This is called concentration.

Therein what is “striving-activity”? That which is the arousing of mental energy, right effort. This is called “striving-activity”. Thus of this energy, of this concentration and of this “striving-activity” he is possessed,² furnished. Therefore this is called “furnished with `energy-concentration, striving-activity”'.

* See paragraph 220.
*² See paragraph 357.

“Accomplishment” means: That which of these states is accomplishment, full accomplishment, act of accomplishing, act of accomplishing fully, gaining, gaining repeatedly, acquiring, acquiring well, contacting, realization, achievement.

“The basis of accomplishment” means: The aggregate of feeling,* aggregate of consciousness of one (in whom the accomplishments have) come to be in the aforesaid manner.

* Intermediate aggregates.

3. Consciousness as the Basis of Accomplishment

And how does a bhikkhu develop the basis of accomplishment furnished with “consciousness-concentration, striving-activity”? If | a bhikkhu, having made consciousness dominant, gains concentration; gains one-pointedness of consciousness. This is called “consciousness-concentration”. He engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the non-arising of evil bad states that have not arisen; for the abandoning of evil bad states that have arisen; for the arising of good states that have not arisen; engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the stabilizing, for the collocation, for the increase, for the maturity, for the development, for the completion of good states that have arisen. These are called “striving-activity”. Thus this “consciousness-concentration” and this “striving-activity”, these taken together collectively and briefly go by the name “consciousness-concentration, striving-activity”.

* Complete as first example.

Therein what is consciousness? That which is consciousness, mind, ideation,* and, depending on the aforesaid, mind-consciousness-element. This is called consciousness.

* See paragraph 184.

Therein what is concentration? That which is stability, steadfastness of consciousness,* right concentration. This is called concentration.

* See paragraph 220.

Therein what is “striving-activity”? That which is the arousing of mental energy, right effort. This is called “striving-activity”. Thus of this consciousness, of this concentration and of this “striving-activity” he is possessed,² furnished. Therefore this is called “furnished with `consciousness-concentration, striving-activity”'.

* See paragraph 220.
*² See paragraph 357.

“Accomplishment” means: That which of these states is accomplishment, full accomplishment, act of accomplishing, act of accomplishing fully, gaining, gaining repeatedly, acquiring, acquiring well, contacting, realization, achievement.

“The basis of accomplishment” means: The aggregate of feeling,* aggregate of consciousness of one (in whom the accomplishments have) come to be in the aforesaid manner.

* Intermediate aggregates.

4. Reason as the Basis of Accomplishment

And how does a bhikkhu develop the basis of accomplishment furnished with “reason-concentration, striving-activity”? If a bhikkhu, having made reason dominant, gains concentration; gains one-pointedness of consciousness. This is called “reason-concentration”. He engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the non-arising of evil bad states that have not arisen; for the abandoning of evil bad states that have arisen; for the arising of good states that have not arisen; engenders wish, makes effort, arouses energy, exerts the mind, strives for the stabilizing, for the collocation, for the increase, for the maturity, for the development, for the completion of good states that have arisen. These are called “striving-activity”. Thus this “reason-concentration” and this “striving-activity”, these taken together collectively and briefly go by the name “reason-concentration, striving-activity”.

* Complete as first example.

Therein what is reason? That which is wisdom, understanding,* absence of dullness, truth investigation, right view. This is called reason.

* See paragraph 525.

Therein what is concentration? That which is stability, steadfastness of consciousness,* right concentration. This is called concentration.

* See paragraph 220.

Therein what is “striving-activity”? That which is the arousing of mental energy, right effort. This is called “striving-activity”. Thus of this reason, of this concentration and of this “striving-activity” he is possessed,² furnished. Therefore this is called `furnished with “reason-concentration, striving-activity”'.

* See paragraph 220.
*² See paragraph 357.

“Accomplishment” means: That which of these states is accomplishment, full accomplishment, act of accomplishing, act of accomplishing fully, gaining, gaining repeatedly, acquiring, acquiring well, contacting, realization, achievement.

“The basis of accomplishment” means: The aggregate of feeling, aggregate of perception, aggregate of mental concomitants, aggregate of consciousness of one (in whom the accomplishments have) come to be in the aforesaid manner.

(Here Ends) Analysis According to the Discourses

2. Analysis According to Abhidhamma

The four bases of accomplishment—Herein a bhikkhu develops the basis of accomplishment furnished with “wish-concentration, striving-activity”; develops the basis of accomplishment furnished with “energy-concentration, striving-activity”; develops the basis of accomplishment furnished with “consciousness-concentration, striving-activity”; develops the basis of accomplishment furnished with “reason-concentration, striving-activity”.

1. Wish as the Basis of Accomplishment

And how does a bhikkhu develop the basis of accomplishment furnished with “wish-concentration, striving-activity”? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures,* attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired; at that time he develops the basis of accomplishment furnished with “wish-concentration, striving-activity”.

* See paragraph 205.

Therein what is wish? That which is wish, act of wishing, desire to do, good righteous wish. This is called wish.

Therein what is concentration? That which is stability, steadfastness of consciousness,* right concentration, concentration-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called concentration.

* See paragraph 220.

Therein what is “striving-activity”? That which is the arousing of mental energy, right effort, energy-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called “striving-activity”. Thus of this wish, of this concentration and of this “striving-activity” he is possessed,² furnished. Therefore this is called “furnished with `wish-concentration, striving-activity”'.

* See paragraph 220.
*² See paragraph 357.

“Accomplishment” means: That which of these states is accomplishment, full accomplishment, act of accomplishing, act of accomplishing fully, gaining, gaining repeatedly, acquiring, acquiring well, contacting, realization, achievement.

* See Dhammasaṅgaṇī paragraph 277.

2. Energy as the Basis of Accomplishment

And how does a bhikkhu develop the basis of accomplishment furnished with “energy-concentration, striving-activity”? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures,* attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired; at that time he develops the basis of accomplishment furnished with “energy-concentration, striving-activity”.

* See paragraph 205.

Therein what is energy? That which is the arousing of mental energy,* right effort, energy-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called energy.

* See paragraph 220.

Therein what is concentration? That which is stability, steadfastness of consciousness,* right concentration, concentration-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called concentration.

* See paragraph 220.

Therein what is “striving-activity”? That which is the arousing of mental energy, right effort, energy-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called “striving-activity”. Thus of this energy, of this concentration and of this “striving-activity” he is possessed,² furnished. Therefore this is called “furnished with `energy-concentration, striving-activity”'.

* See paragraph 220.
*² See paragraph 357.

“Accomplishment” means: That which of these states is accomplishment, full accomplishment, act of accomplishing, act of accomplishing fully, gaining, gaining repeatedly, acquiring, acquiring well, contacting, realization, achievement.

“The basis of accomplishment” means: The contact,* exertion, non-wavering of one (in whom the accomplishments have) come to be in the aforesaid manner.

* See Dhammasaṅgaṇī paragraph 277.

3. Consciousness as the Basis of Accomplishment

And how does a bhikkhu develop the basis of accomplishment furnished with “consciousness-concentration, striving-activity”? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and | death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures,* attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired; at that time he develops the basis of accomplishment furnished with “consciousness-concentration, striving-activity”.

* See paragraph 205.

Therein what is consciousness? That which is consciousness, mind, ideation,* and, depending on the aforesaid, mind-consciousness-element. This is called consciousness.

* See paragraph 184.

Therein what is concentration? That which is stability, steadfastness of consciousness,* right concentration, concentration-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called concentration.

* See paragraph 220.

Therein what is “striving-activity”? That which is the arousing of mental energy, right effort, energy-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called “striving-activity”. Thus of this consciousness, of this concentration and of this “striving-activity” he is possessed,² furnished. Therefore this is called “furnished with `consciousness-concentration, striving-activity”'.

* See paragraph 220.
*² See paragraph 357.

“Accomplishment” means: That which of these states is accomplishment, full accomplishment, act of accomplishing, act of accomplishing fully, gaining, gaining repeatedly, acquiring, acquiring well, contacting, realization, achievement.

“The basis of accomplishment” means: The contact,* exertion, non-wavering of one (in whom the accomplishments have) come to be in the aforesaid manner.

* See Dhammasaṅgaṇī paragraph 277.

4. Reason as the Basis of Accomplishment

And how does a bhikkhu develop the basis of accomplishment furnished with “reason-concentration, striving-activity”? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures,* attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired; at that time he develops the basis of accomplishment furnished with “reason-concentration, striving-activity”.

* See paragraph 205.

Therein what is reason? That which is wisdom, understanding,* absence of dullness, truth investigation, right view, truth investigation-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called reason.

* See paragraph 525.

Therein what is concentration? That which is stability, steadfastness of consciousness,* right concentration, concentration-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called concentration.

* See paragraph 220.

Therein what is “striving-activity”? That which is the arousing of mental energy,* right effort, energy-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called “striving-activity”. Thus of this reason, of this concentration and of this “striving-activity” he is possessed, well possessed, attained, well attained, endowed, well endowed, furnished. Therefore this is called “furnished with `reason-concentration, striving-activity”'.

* See paragraph 220.

“Accomplishment” means: That which of these states is accomplishment, full accomplishment, act of accomplishing, act of accomplishing fully, gaining, gaining repeatedly, acquiring, acquiring well, contacting, realization, achievement.

“The basis of accomplishment” means: The contact,* exertion, non-wavering of one (in whom the accomplishments have) come to be in the aforesaid manner.

* See Dhammasaṅgaṇī paragraph 277.

The four bases of accomplishment are: Wish as the basis of accomplishment, energy as the basis of accomplishment, consciousness as the basis of accomplishment, reason as the basis of accomplishment.

Therein what is wish as the basis of accomplishment?

Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures,* attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired; that which at that time is wish, act of wishing, desire to do, good righteous wish. This is called wish as the basis of accomplishment. (As also are) The remaining states associated with wish as the basis of accomplishment.

* See paragraph 205.

Therein what is energy as the basis of accomplishment? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures, attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired; that which at that time is the arousing of mental energy,² right effort, energy-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called energy as the basis of accomplishment. (As also are) The remaining states associated with energy as the basis of accomplishment.

* See paragraph 205.
*² See paragraph 220.

Therein what is consciousness as the basis of accomplishment? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures, attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly | acquired; that which at that time is consciousness, mind, ideation,² and, depending on the aforesaid, mind-consciousness-element. This is called consciousness as the basis of accomplishment. (As also are) The remaining states associated with consciousness as the basis of accomplishment.

* See paragraph 205.
*² See paragraph 184.

Therein what is reason as the basis of accomplishment? Herein at the time when a bhikkhu develops supramundane jhāna tending to release, dispersive of continuing rebirth and death; he, for the abandoning of wrong view, for the entering of the first stage, aloof from sense pleasures, attains and dwells in the first jhāna that is hard practice and knowledge slowly acquired; that which at that time is wisdom, understanding,² absence of dullness, truth investigation, right view, truth investigation-enlightenment-factor, path constituent, included in the path. This is called reason as the basis of accomplishment. (As also are) The remaining states associated with reason as the basis of accomplishment,

* See paragraph 205.
*² See paragraph 525.

(Here Ends) Analysis According to Abhidhamma

3. Interrogation

The four bases of accomplishment—Herein a bhikkhu develops the basis of accomplishment furnished with “wish-concentration, striving-activity”; “energy-concentration”; “consciousness-concentration”; develops the basis of accomplishment furnished with “reason-concentration, striving-activity”.

* Complete as final example.

Of the four bases of accomplishment how many are good; how many bad; how many neither-good-nor-bad.* How many with cause of bewailing; how many without cause of bewailing?

* Remaining appropriate triplets and couplets.

1. The Triplets

(The four bases of accomplishment) Are only good. Sometimes are associated with pleasant feeling; sometimes are associated | with neither-painful-nor-pleasant feeling. Are productive of resultant. Are not grasped (by craving and false view), are not objects of the attachments. Are not corrupt, are not objects of the corruptions. Sometimes are accompanied by initial application, accompanied by sustained application; sometimes are without initial application, sustained application only; sometimes are without initial application, without sustained application. Sometimes are accompanied by zest; sometimes are accompanied by pleasure; sometimes are accompanied by indifference. Are not to be abandoned either by the first path or by the subsequent paths. Have no roots to be abandoned either by the first path or by the subsequent paths. Are dispersive (of continuing rebirth and death). Are of the seven supramundane stages. Are immeasurable. Have immeasurable object. Are superior. Are right (states with) fixed (resultant time). Do not have path as their object; have path as their cause; do not have path as their dominating factor. Sometimes are risen; sometimes are not risen; should not be said to be, bound to arise. Sometimes are past; sometimes are future; sometimes are present. Should not be said to have either, past object, future object or present object. Sometimes are internal; sometimes are external; sometimes are both internal and external. Have external object. Are not visible, are not impingent.

2. The Couplets

Reason as the basis of accomplishment is root. Three bases of accomplishment are not roots. (The four bases of accomplishment) Are accompanied by roots. Are associated with roots. Reason as the basis of accomplishment is root also accompanied by root. Three bases of accomplishment should not be said to be, roots also accompanied by roots; (they) are accompanied by roots but are not roots. Reason as the basis of accomplishment is root also associated with root. Three bases of accomplishment should not be said to be, roots also associated with roots; (they) are associated with roots but are not roots. Three bases of accomplishment are not roots, are accompanied by roots. Reason as the basis of accomplishment should not be said to be, not root, accompanied by root or not root, not accompanied by root. (The four bases of accomplishment) Are with cause. Are conditioned. Are not visible. Are not impingent. Are not material. Are supramundane. Are cognizable by one way; are not | cognizable by another way. Are not defilements. Are not objects of the defilements. Are not associated with the defilements. Should not be said to be, defilements also objects of the defilements or objects of the defilements but are not defilements. Should not be said to be, defilements also associated with the defilements or associated with the defilements but are not defilements. Are not associated with the defilements, are not objects of the defilements.

(The four bases of accomplishment) Are not fetters. Are not ties. Are not floods. Are not bonds. Are not hindrances. Are not perversions. Have objects. Three bases of accomplishment are not consciousness. Consciousness as basis of accomplishment is consciousness. Three bases of accomplishment are mental concomitants. Consciousness as the basis of accomplishment is not mental concomitant. Three bases of accomplishment are associated with consciousness. Consciousness as the basis of accomplishment should not be said to be, associated with consciousness or not associated with consciousness. Three bases of accomplishment are conjoined with consciousness. Consciousness as the basis of accomplishment should not be said to be, conjoined with consciousness or not conjoined with consciousness. Three bases of accomplishment are generated by consciousness. Consciousness as the basis of accomplishment is not generated by consciousness. Three bases of accomplishment are co-existent with consciousness. Consciousness as the basis of accomplishment is not co-existent with consciousness. Three bases of accomplishment accompany consciousness. Consciousness as the basis of accomplishment does not accompany consciousness. Three bases of accomplishment are conjoined with, generated by consciousness. Consciousness as the basis of accomplishment is not conjoined with, not generated by consciousness. Three bases of accomplishment are conjoined with, generated by, co-existent with consciousness. Consciousness as the basis of accomplishment is not conjoined with, not generated by, not co-existent with consciousness. Three bases of accomplishment are conjoined with, generated by, accompany consciousness. Consciousness as the basis of accomplishment is not conjoined with, not generated by, does not accompany consciousness.

* Complete as for defilements in previous paragraph.

Three bases of accomplishment are external. Consciousness as the basis of accomplishment is internal. (The four bases of accomplishment) Are not derived. Are not grasped. Are not attachments. Are not corruptions. Are not to be abandoned by the first path. Are not to be abandoned by the subsequent paths. Have no roots to be abandoned by the first path. Have no roots to be abandoned by the subsequent paths. Sometimes are accompanied by initial application; sometimes are without initial application. Sometimes are accompanied by sustained application; sometimes are without sustained application. Sometimes are with zest; sometimes are without zest. Sometimes are accompanied by zest; sometimes are not accompanied by zest. Sometimes are accompanied by pleasure; sometimes are not accompanied by pleasure. Sometimes are accompanied by indifference; sometimes are not accompanied by indifference. Are not characteristic of the plane of desire. Are not characteristic of the plane of form. Are not characteristic of the formless plane. Are not included (i.e. are supramundane). Tend to release. Are of fixed (resultant time). Are not surpassable. Are without cause of bewailing.

* Complete as for defilements in earlier paragraph.

(Here Ends) Interrogation