[515] "Wait, friend Ānanda! Do not let the Saṅgha examine you further. What do you think, friend Ānanda? Were you ever brought forward before the Bhikkhu Saṅgha in the presence of the Blessed One thus: 'Bhikkhus, for as long as I wish, secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, I enter and dwell in the first jhāna, which is accompanied by thought (vitakka) and examination (vicāra), with rapture (pīti) and happiness born of seclusion. Ānanda too, bhikkhus, for as long as he wishes, secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, enters and dwells in the first jhāna, which is accompanied by thought and examination, with rapture and happiness born of seclusion'?"
"Not so, venerable sir."
"I, friend, was brought forward before the Bhikkhu Saṅgha in the presence of the Blessed One thus: 'Bhikkhus, for as long as I wish, secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, I enter and dwell in the first jhāna, which is accompanied by thought and examination, with rapture and happiness born of seclusion. Kassapa too, bhikkhus, for as long as he wishes, secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states … enters and dwells in the first jhāna.'"
[The elision (peyyāla) is to be applied in this way for the nine successive dwelling-attainments and the five direct knowledges.]
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.