[513] 74. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling among the Sakyans at Kapilavatthu, in the Nigrodhārāma. Now on that occasion the Blessed One had recovered from illness, having but recently recovered from his sickness. Then Mahānāma the Sakyan approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Mahānāma the Sakyan said this to the Blessed One: "For a long time, venerable sir, I have understood the Dhamma taught by the Blessed One thus: 'Knowledge (ñāṇa) is for one who is concentrated, not for one who is unconcentrated.' Venerable sir, does concentration (samādhi) come first and knowledge afterward, or does knowledge come first and concentration afterward?"
Then it occurred to the Venerable Ānanda: "The Blessed One has recovered from illness, having but recently recovered from his sickness, and this Mahānāma the Sakyan asks the Blessed One an exceedingly profound question. Suppose I were to lead Mahānāma the Sakyan off to one side and teach him the Dhamma." Then the Venerable Ānanda, taking Mahānāma the Sakyan by the arm, led him off to one side and said this to Mahānāma the Sakyan: "Mahānāma, virtue (sīla) of the learner (sekha) has been spoken of by the Blessed One, and virtue of the adept (asekha) has been spoken of by the Blessed One; concentration of the learner has been spoken of by the Blessed One, and concentration of the adept has been spoken of by the Blessed One; wisdom (paññā) of the learner has been spoken of by the Blessed One, and wisdom of the adept has been spoken of by the Blessed One.
"And what, Mahānāma, is the virtue of the learner? Here, Mahānāma, a bhikkhu is virtuous … he trains in the training rules he has undertaken. This, Mahānāma, is called the virtue of the learner.
"And what, Mahānāma, is the concentration of the learner? Here, Mahānāma, a bhikkhu, secluded from sensual pleasures … enters and dwells in the fourth jhāna. This, Mahānāma, is called the concentration of the learner.
"And what, Mahānāma, is the wisdom of the learner? Here, Mahānāma, a bhikkhu understands as it really is: 'This is suffering (dukkha)' … he understands as it really is: 'This is the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering.' This, Mahānāma, is called the wisdom of the learner.
"Then, Mahānāma, that noble disciple, thus accomplished in virtue, thus accomplished in concentration, thus accomplished in wisdom, with the destruction of the taints (āsava), realizes for himself with direct knowledge (abhiññā), in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind (cetovimutti) and liberation by wisdom (paññāvimutti), and having entered upon it, he dwells therein. Thus, Mahānāma, virtue of the learner has been spoken of by the Blessed One, and virtue of the adept has been spoken of by the Blessed One; concentration of the learner has been spoken of by the Blessed One, and concentration of the adept has been spoken of by the Blessed One; wisdom of the learner has been spoken of by the Blessed One, and wisdom of the adept has been spoken of by the Blessed One."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.