[537] How does one develop serenity (samatha) preceded by insight (vipassanā)?
Insight, in the sense of contemplating as impermanent; insight, in the sense of contemplating as suffering (dukkha); insight, in the sense of contemplating as not-self. The one-pointedness and non-distraction of the mind (citta), having as its object the relinquishment (vossagga) of the dhammas arisen therein, is concentration (samādhi). Thus insight comes first, serenity afterwards; therefore it is said: one develops serenity preceded by insight.
"Develops": there are four kinds of development (bhāvanā) … development in the sense of frequent practice … "The path is generated": how is the path (magga) generated? … Thus the path is generated … Thus the fetters are abandoned, the latent tendencies (anusaya) are eliminated. Insight, in the sense of contemplating form as impermanent; insight, in the sense of contemplating form as suffering; insight, in the sense of contemplating form as not-self. The one-pointedness and non-distraction of the mind, having as its object the relinquishment of the dhammas arisen therein, is concentration. Thus insight comes first, serenity afterwards; therefore it is said: one develops serenity preceded by insight.
"Develops": there are four kinds of development … development in the sense of frequent practice. "The path is generated" … Thus the path is generated … Thus the fetters are abandoned, the latent tendencies are eliminated. Insight, in the sense of contemplating feeling (vedanā), perception, volitional formations, consciousness, the eye … aging and death as impermanent; insight, in the sense of contemplating aging and death as suffering … in the sense of contemplating as not-self. The one-pointedness and non-distraction of the mind, having as its object the relinquishment of the dhammas arisen therein, is concentration. Thus insight comes first, serenity afterwards; therefore it is said: one develops serenity preceded by insight.
"Develops": there are four kinds of development … "Is generated": how is the path generated? … Thus the path is generated … Thus the fetters are abandoned, the latent tendencies are eliminated. Thus one develops serenity preceded by insight.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.