At Sāvatthi.

There the Blessed One said:

"Bhikkhus, there are these four jhānas. What four?

Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, quite secluded from sensual pleasures and unwholesome mental states, enters and dwells in the first jhāna, which is accompanied by reflection and examination, born from seclusion, and is filled with joyful pleasure.

With the settling of reflection and examination, he enters and dwells in the second jhāna, which is characterized by internal tranquility and unification of mind, is without reflection and examination, born from collectedness, and is filled with joyful pleasure.

With the fading away of joyful pleasure, he dwells in a state of equanimity, mindful and fully aware, experiencing ease with the body. He enters and dwells in the third jhāna, which the noble ones describe as, 'one who dwells equanimous, mindful, and at ease.'

With the abandoning of ease and discontentment, and with the settling down of joy and sorrow, he enters and dwells in the fourth jhāna, which is characterized by purification of mindfulness through equanimity, experiencing neither-painful-nor-pleasant sensation.

These, bhikkhus, are the four jhānas.

Just as the river Ganges slants, slopes, and inclines towards the east, so too, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu who develops and cultivates the four jhānas slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.

And how, bhikkhus, does a bhikkhu who develops and cultivates the four jhānas slant, slope, and incline towards Nibbāna?

Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, quite secluded from sensual pleasures and unwholesome mental states, with reflection and examination, born of seclusion, filled with joyful pleasure, enters and dwells in the first jhāna.

With the subsiding of reflection and examination, experiencing internal tranquility and unification of mind, devoid of reflection and examination, born of collectedness and filled with joyful pleasure, he enters and dwells in the second jhāna.

With the fading away of joyful pleasure, he dwells equanimous and mindful, fully aware, and experiences physical pleasure, which the Noble Ones describe as 'one who dwells happily, equanimous and mindful.' Thus, he enters and dwells in the third jhāna.

With the abandoning of ease and suffering, and with the previous disappearance of joy and sorrow, experiencing neither-painful-nor-pleasant sensation, and with the purity of equanimity and mindfulness, he enters and dwells in the fourth jhāna.

Thus, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu who develops and cultivates the four jhānas slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna."