Sutta on meditation gains?

[Sam Vara]

Several times over the years I have seen a "summary" of part of the Buddha's teaching which goes thus.

Someone asks the Buddha (or one of his disciples) what they have gained from the practice of meditation. The answer is "nothing", and the questioner then asks what is the use of the practice. The answer is then that the value lies in what is lost or abandoned through meditation: anger, fear, and other negative states.

Does anyone know if this has any basis in the Canon? Or is it an outgrowth of Western folk Buddhism?

[reflection]

First let me say I don't know such a quote literally from the canon.

But when a certain idea is not directly from the canon, doesn't mean it can not be derived from it or that it's not true. I think this has a base in the canon, apart from the fact that the canon would not mention only meditation, but the entire 8-fold path. It also mentiones leaving behind negative mindstates will replace them with positive ones.

[Sam Vara]

Many thanks reflection.

I take your point, but I would like to know if there is a particular Sutta.

[daverupa]

As far as I am aware, there isn't anything in the Suttas which depicts this sort of exchange.

[Sam Vara]

Hi Dave,

Many thanks. As your knowledge is almost encyclopaedic, my hopes for a Sutta are now dwindling. Cittasanto maybe?