SN 36.31 Spiritual – Nirāmisasutta

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SN 36.31 Spiritual – Nirāmisasutta

Linked Discourses 36.31 – Saṁyutta Nikāya 36.31

3. The Explanation of the Hundred and Eight – 3. Aṭṭhasatapariyāyavagga

SN 36.31 Spiritual – Nirāmisasutta

 

Bhikkhū, there is material rapture, spiritual rapture, and even more spiritual rapture.

“Atthi, bhikkhave, sāmisā pīti, atthi nirāmisā pīti, atthi nirāmisā nirāmisatarā pīti;

There is material pleasure, spiritual pleasure, and even more spiritual pleasure.

atthi sāmisaṁ sukhaṁ, atthi nirāmisaṁ sukhaṁ, atthi nirāmisā nirāmisataraṁ sukhaṁ;

There is material equanimity, spiritual equanimity, and even more spiritual equanimity.

atthi sāmisā upekkhā, atthi nirāmisā upekkhā, atthi nirāmisā nirāmisatarā upekkhā;

There is material liberation, spiritual liberation, and even more spiritual liberation.

atthi sāmiso vimokkho, atthi nirāmiso vimokkho, atthi nirāmisā nirāmisataro vimokkho.

And what is material rapture?

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sāmisā pīti?

There are these five kinds of sensual stimulation.

Pañcime, bhikkhave, kāmaguṇā.

What five?

Katame pañca?

Sights known by the eye that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. Sounds … Smells … Tastes …

Cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā …pe…

Touches known by the body that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.

kāyaviññeyyā phoṭṭhabbā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.

These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca kāmaguṇā.

The rapture that arises from these five kinds of sensual stimulation is called material rapture.

Yā kho, bhikkhave, ime pañca kāmaguṇe paṭicca uppajjati pīti, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sāmisā pīti.

And what is spiritual rapture?

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, nirāmisā pīti?

It’s when a bhikkhu, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, they enter and remain in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of samādhi, with internal clarity and confidence, and unified mind, without placing the mind and keeping it connected.

Vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

This is called spiritual rapture.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, nirāmisā pīti.

And what is even more spiritual rapture?

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisatarā pīti?

When a bhikkhu who has ended the defilements reviews their mind free from greed, hate, and delusion, rapture arises. This is called even more spiritual rapture.

Yā kho, bhikkhave, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno rāgā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato, dosā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato, mohā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato uppajjati pīti, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisatarā pīti.

And what is material pleasure?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, sāmisaṁ sukhaṁ?

Bhikkhū, there are these five kinds of sensual stimulation.

Pañcime, bhikkhave, kāmaguṇā.

What five?

Katame pañca?

Sights known by the eye that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. Sounds … Smells … Tastes …

Cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā …pe…

Touches known by the body that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.

kāyaviññeyyā phoṭṭhabbā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.

These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca kāmaguṇā.

The pleasure and happiness that arise from these five kinds of sensual stimulation is called material pleasure.

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ime pañca kāmaguṇe paṭicca uppajjati sukhaṁ somanassaṁ, idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sāmisaṁ sukhaṁ.

And what is spiritual pleasure?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, nirāmisaṁ sukhaṁ?

It’s when a bhikkhu, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, they enter and remain in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of samādhi, with internal clarity and confidence, and unified mind, without placing the mind and keeping it connected.

Vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

And with the fading away of rapture, they enter and remain in the third absorption, where they meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, personally experiencing the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’

Pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharati sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedeti, yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

This is called spiritual pleasure.

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, nirāmisaṁ sukhaṁ.

And what is even more spiritual pleasure?

Katamañca, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisataraṁ sukhaṁ?

When a bhikkhu who has ended the defilements reviews their mind free from greed, hate, and delusion, pleasure and happiness arises. This is called even more spiritual pleasure.

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno rāgā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato, dosā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato, mohā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato uppajjati sukhaṁ somanassaṁ, idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisataraṁ sukhaṁ.

And what is material equanimity?

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sāmisā upekkhā?

There are these five kinds of sensual stimulation.

Pañcime, bhikkhave, kāmaguṇā.

What five?

Katame pañca?

Sights known by the eye that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. Sounds … Smells … Tastes …

Cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā …pe…

Touches known by the body that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.

kāyaviññeyyā phoṭṭhabbā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.

These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca kāmaguṇā.

The equanimity that arises from these five kinds of sensual stimulation is called material equanimity.

Yā kho, bhikkhave, ime pañca kāmaguṇe paṭicca uppajjati upekkhā, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sāmisā upekkhā.

And what is spiritual equanimity?

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, nirāmisā upekkhā?

It’s when, giving up pleasure and pain, and ending former happiness and sadness, a bhikkhu enters and remains in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness.

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā, dukkhassa ca pahānā, pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā, adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

This is called spiritual equanimity.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, nirāmisā upekkhā.

And what is even more spiritual equanimity?

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisatarā upekkhā?

When a bhikkhu who has ended the defilements reviews their mind free from greed, hate, and delusion, equanimity arises. This is called even more spiritual equanimity.

Yā kho, bhikkhave, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno rāgā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato, dosā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato, mohā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato uppajjati upekkhā, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisatarā upekkhā.

And what is material liberation?

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, sāmiso vimokkho?

Liberation connected with form is material.

Rūpappaṭisaṁyutto vimokkho sāmiso vimokkho.

And what is spiritual liberation?

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, nirāmiso vimokkho?

Liberation connected with the formless is spiritual.

Arūpappaṭisaṁyutto vimokkho nirāmiso vimokkho.

And what is even more spiritual liberation?

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisataro vimokkho?

When a bhikkhu who has ended the defilements reviews their mind free from greed, hate, and delusion, liberation arises. This is called even more spiritual liberation.”

Yo kho, bhikkhave, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno rāgā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato, dosā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato, mohā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato uppajjati vimokkho, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisataro vimokkho”ti.

Ekādasamaṁ.

Aṭṭhasatapariyāyavaggo tatiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Sīvakaaṭṭhasataṁ bhikkhu,

pubbe ñāṇañca bhikkhunā;

Samaṇabrāhmaṇā tīṇi,

The Linked Discourses on feeling are complete.

suddhikañca nirāmisanti.