Deep Commentary

This verse is part of a series taught by the Buddha at Jetavana concerning a large group of bhikkhus, particularly the story of Sona Kutikanna and his mother. The Buddha emphasizes the essential interdependence of meditative concentration (samadhi) and wisdom (pañña). Concentration without wisdom leads to a dull, trance-like state, while wisdom without concentration lacks the stability to penetrate reality. The two must be cultivated together. According to the Theravada tradition, morality gives rise to concentration, and concentration gives rise to wisdom. In the Mahayana tradition, especially as taught by the Sixth Patriarch Huineng in the Platform Sutra, concentration and wisdom are non-dual and simultaneous. Regardless of the interpretation, a practitioner who possesses both is said to be close to Nibbana.