[gopinadh]

Tucked towards the end of the verse on the first jhana , is this word. I have pasted the entire verse which defines the first Jhana and the translation below:( the same wording figures in many a sutta – when describing the First Jhana)

“So vivicceva kāmehi, vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.”

“Quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, they enter and remain in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.”

Sutta Link-Samanaphala

As far as the  word upasampajja goes it is most often translated  by modern writers as “enters” or ”enters and remains” and sometimes as “having attained”. However, the  word “upasamana” seems to have a meaning which is “calmness” “appeasement”. And accordingly the word “upasampajja” in the dictionaries also has the meaning “having appeased”, “having calmed”.

Dictionary

If we can utilize the above meaning, without grammatical nuances, the translation can read as follows:

Quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected, one dwells in the first jhana –   duly relieved (upasampajja) – of kama,akusala, vitakka and vichara.

The verse’s  heart undoubtedly rests,  in pointing to(us)  a dimension which is accessible to each or any one of us, who are willing to look for it , bang  right in the midst of our daily lives. A dimension free of routine thought which we are so used to and without which we cannot imagine a Life. Life for us (atleast for run of a mill person like me) is made up of thinking. On the other hand this verse  tell us , politely, that our life isn’t necessarily so,  and is in-fact far richer than we routinely “think” it to be.

Each jhana “relieves” the one practising,  from the factors included in the earlier dimension. Piti-Sukh -Upekkha.  

One might read a million words or even more  on jhana. The search of the word “Jhana”  on one of the sites , if I remember,  gave me links to around 1600 web pages on the sites directory. But once, one closes his eyes, his minds begs to zoom in one only one or two words, around which an understanding , of what needs to be done , can pivot –  and from there (once the key word is landed upon)  the internalization starts. This is how one usually starts his meditation as a beginner. (again, this is me).

I would like to submit that the correct meaning of Upasampajja can be one such “landing” words for the practitioner.

I would like to request the seniors here, to kindly throw light on the word and guide further – for which i will be  grateful. Have a good day sirs.

[Lal]

“Upasampajja” is related to “sampajānakārī” and is about “coming to that state with mindfulness.”

• See “Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta (DN 22)“: “Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhu abhikkante paṭikkante sampajānakārī hoti, ālokite vilokite sampajānakārī hoti, samiñjite pasārite sampajānakārī hoti, saṅghāṭipattacīvaradhāraṇe sampajānakārī hoti, asite pīte khāyite sāyite sampajānakārī hoti, uccārapassāvakamme sampajānakārī hoti, gate ṭhite nisinne sutte jāgarite bhāsite tuṇhībhāve sampajānakārī hoti.”
• Also, see “Kāyānupassanā – The Section on Habits (Sampajanapabba).“

P.S. When one cultivates mindfulness (“sampajānakārī“), one gets to “live with the resulting calm state” (upasampajja viharati.) 

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