Saṁyutta Nikāya 36.31

Translators: sujato

Linked Discourses 36.31

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

Nirāmisasutta

Not of the Flesh

“Atthi, bhikkhave, sāmisā pīti, atthi nirāmisā pīti, atthi nirāmisā nirāmisatarā pīti;
“Mendicants, there is rapture of the flesh, rapture not of the flesh, and rapture even more spiritual than that not of the flesh.

atthi sāmisaṁ sukhaṁ, atthi nirāmisaṁ sukhaṁ, atthi nirāmisā nirāmisataraṁ sukhaṁ;
There is pleasure of the flesh, pleasure not of the flesh, and pleasure even more spiritual than that not of the flesh.

atthi sāmisā upekkhā, atthi nirāmisā upekkhā, atthi nirāmisā nirāmisatarā upekkhā;
There is equanimity of the flesh, equanimity not of the flesh, and equanimity even more spiritual than that not of the flesh.

atthi sāmiso vimokkho, atthi nirāmiso vimokkho, atthi nirāmisā nirāmisataro vimokkho.
There is liberation of the flesh, liberation not of the flesh, and liberation even more spiritual than that not of the flesh.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sāmisā pīti?
And what is rapture of the flesh?

Pañcime, bhikkhave, kāmaguṇā.
There are these five kinds of sensual stimulation.

Katame pañca?
What five?

Cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā …pe…
Sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. Sounds … Smells … Tastes …

kāyaviññeyyā phoṭṭhabbā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.
Touches known by the body, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca kāmaguṇā.
These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation.

Yā kho, bhikkhave, ime pañca kāmaguṇe paṭicca uppajjati pīti, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sāmisā pīti.
The rapture that arises from these five kinds of sensual stimulation is called rapture of the flesh.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, nirāmisā pīti?
And what is rapture not of the flesh?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.
It’s when a mendicant, 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.

Vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ 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 immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, nirāmisā pīti.
This is called rapture not of the flesh.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisatarā pīti?
And what is rapture even more spiritual than that not of the flesh?

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.
When a mendicant who has ended the defilements reviews their mind free from greed, hate, and delusion, rapture arises. This is called rapture even more spiritual than that not of the flesh.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, sāmisaṁ sukhaṁ?
And what is pleasure of the flesh?

Pañcime, bhikkhave, kāmaguṇā.
Mendicants, there are these five kinds of sensual stimulation.

Katame pañca?
What five?

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca kāmaguṇā.
These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation.

Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ime pañca kāmaguṇe paṭicca uppajjati sukhaṁ somanassaṁ, idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sāmisaṁ sukhaṁ.
The pleasure and happiness that arise from these five kinds of sensual stimulation is called pleasure of the flesh.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, nirāmisaṁ sukhaṁ?
And what is pleasure not of the flesh?

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

Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, nirāmisaṁ sukhaṁ.
This is called pleasure not of the flesh.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisataraṁ sukhaṁ?
And what is pleasure even more spiritual than that not of the flesh?

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.
When a mendicant who has ended the defilements reviews their mind free from greed, hate, and delusion, pleasure and happiness arises. This is called pleasure even more spiritual than that not of the flesh.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sāmisā upekkhā?
And what is equanimity of the flesh?

Pañcime, bhikkhave, kāmaguṇā.
There are these five kinds of sensual stimulation.

Katame pañca?
What five?

Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca kāmaguṇā.
These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation.

Yā kho, bhikkhave, ime pañca kāmaguṇe paṭicca uppajjati upekkhā, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sāmisā upekkhā.
The equanimity that arises from these five kinds of sensual stimulation is called equanimity of the flesh.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, nirāmisā upekkhā?
And what is equanimity not of the flesh?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā, dukkhassa ca pahānā, pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā, adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.
It’s when, giving up pleasure and pain, and ending former happiness and sadness, a mendicant enters and remains in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness.

Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, nirāmisā upekkhā.
This is called equanimity not of the flesh.

Katamā ca, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisatarā upekkhā?
And what is equanimity even more spiritual than that not of the flesh?

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.
When a mendicant who has ended the defilements reviews their mind free from greed, hate, and delusion, equanimity arises. This is called equanimity even more spiritual than that not of the flesh.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, sāmiso vimokkho?
And what is liberation of the flesh?

Rūpappaṭisaṁyutto vimokkho sāmiso vimokkho.
Liberation connected with form is liberation of the flesh.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, nirāmiso vimokkho?
And what is liberation not of the flesh?

Arūpappaṭisaṁyutto vimokkho nirāmiso vimokkho.
Liberation connected with the formless is liberation not of the flesh.

Katamo ca, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisataro vimokkho?
And what is liberation even more spiritual than that not of the flesh?

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.
When a mendicant who has ended the defilements reviews their mind free from greed, hate, and delusion, liberation arises. This is called liberation even more spiritual than that not of the flesh.”

Ekādasamaṁ.

Aṭṭhasatapariyāyavaggo tatiyo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Sīvakaaṭṭhasataṁ bhikkhu,

pubbe ñāṇañca bhikkhunā;

Samaṇabrāhmaṇā tīṇi,

suddhikañca nirāmisanti.

Vedanāsaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.
The Linked Discourses on feeling are complete.