Saṃyutta Nikāya
4. Saḷāyatana Vagga
36. Vedanā Saṃyutta
2. Raho-Gata Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
4. The Book Called the Saḷāyatana-Vagga
Containing Kindred Sayings on the 'Six-Fold Sphere' of Sense and Other Subjects
36. Kindred Sayings about Feeling
2. The Chapter on Solitude
Sutta 20
Bhikkhunā Suttaṃ
By A Brother
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
For details see Terms of Use.
The Exalted One once addressed the brethren, saying:
"Brethren."
"Lord," responded those brethren to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One thus spake:
"There are two feelings, brethren,
in mv way of explaining.
There are also three feelings, brethren,
in my way of explaining.
There are also five feelings, brethren,
in my way of explaining.
There are also six feelings, brethren,
in my way of explaining.
There are also eighteen feelings, brethren,
in my way of explaining.
There are also thirty-six feelings, brethren,
in my way of explaining.
There are also one hundred and eight feelings in mv way of explaining, brethren.
■
Such is the exposition of the Norm taught by me, brethren.
Though I have thus expounded my method of teaching the Norm, brethren,
of those who will not approve of,
will not agree with,
each other's exposition of it,
however well said and spoken, -
of such you may expect this:
They will dwell quarrelsome,
wrangling,
disputatious,
wounding each other with the weapons of the tongue.
■
Now such is the method of the Norm,
as expounded by me.
When I have so expounded it,
those who approve of,
agree with,
each other's exposition of it,
being well said andspoken, -
of such you may expect this:
They will dwell in harmony,
courteous,
without quarrelling,
like milk and water mixed,
looking on one another
with the eye of affection.
§
There are these five sensual elements, brethren.
What five?
Objects cognizable by the eve,
desirable,
pleasant,
delightful
and dear,
passion-fraught,
inciting to lust.
Sounds cognizable by the ear,
desirable,
pleasant,
delightful
and dear,
passion-fraught,
inciting to lust.
Scents cognizable by the nose,
desirable,
pleasant,
delightful
and dear,
passion-fraught,
inciting to lust.
Savours cognizable by the tongue,
desirable,
pleasant,
delightful
and dear,
passion-fraught,
inciting to lust.
Tangibles cognizable by the body,
desirable,
pleasant,
delightful
and dear,
passion-fraught,
inciting to lust.
These, brethren, are the five sensual elements.
■
That pleasure,
that happiness
that arises owing to the five sensual elements, -
that, brethren,
is called "sensual pleasure."
Now, brethren, there may be some who aver:
'This is the supreme pleasure and happiness
that beings experience.'
But of that view of theirs
I do not allow.
Why not?
There is, brethren, another pleasure,
still more excellent and exquisite than this.
■
And what is that?
Herein, brethren, a brother,
aloof from sensua1ity,
aloof from evil conditions,
enters on the first trance,
which is accompanied by thought directed and sustained,
which is born of solitude,
easeful and zestful,
and abides therein.
This, brethren, is another pleasure
still more excellent
still more exquisite
than that one.
There may be some, brethren, who aver:
'This is the supreme pleasure and happiness
that beings can experience.'
But of that view of theirs
I do not allow.
Why not?
There is, brethren, another pleasure,
still more excellent and exquisite than this.
■
And what is that?
Herein, brethren, a brother,
by the calming down of thought directed and sustained,
enters on the inward calm,
that single-mindedness of will,
apart from thought directed and sustained,
born of mental balance,
zestful and full of ease,
which is the second trance.
This, brethren, is a pleasure
still more excellent,
still more exquisite
than that other.
There may be some, brethren, who aver:
'This is the supreme pleasure and happiness
that beings can experience.'
But of that view of theirs
I do not allow.
Why not?
There is, brethren, another pleasure,
still more excellent and exquisite than this.
■
And what is that?
Herein, brethren, a brother,
by the fading out of zest
becomes balanced
and remains mindful and composed,
and experiences with the body
the happiness of which the Ariyans aver:
'The balanced thoughtful man
dwells happily.'
Then he enters on the third trance
and abides therein.
This, brethren, is a pleasure
still more excellent,
still more exquisite
than that other.
There may be some, brethren, who aver:
'This is the supreme pleasure and happiness
that beings can experience.'
But of that view of theirs
I do not allow.
Why not?
There is, brethren, another pleasure,
still more excellent and exquisite than this.
And what is that?
■
Herein, brethren, a brother,
rejecting pleasure and pain,
by the coming to an end
of the joy and sorrow
which he had before,
enters on
and abides in
the fourth trance,
which is free of pain
and free of pleasure,
but is a state of perfect purity
of balance
and equanimity.
This, brethren, is a pleasure
still more excellent,
still more exquisite
than that other.
There may be some, brethren, who aver:
'This is the supreme pleasure and happiness
that beings can experience.'
But of that view of theirs
I do not allow.
Why not?
There is, brethren, another pleasure,
still more excellent and exquisite than this.
■
And what is that?
Herein, brethren, a brother,
passing utterly beyond the perception of objects,
by the coming to an end
of perception of resistance,
by not attending to perception of diversity,
with the idea of
'infinite is space,'
attains
and abides in
the realm of the infinity of space.
This, brethren, is a pleasure
still more excellent,
still more exquisite
than that other.
There may be some, brethren, who aver:
'This is the supreme pleasure and happiness
that beings can experience.'
But of that view of theirs
I do not allow.
Why not?
There is, brethren, another pleasure,
still more excellent and exquisite than this.
■
And what is that?
Herein, brethren, a brother,
passing utterly beyond the realm of infinite space,
with the idea of
'infinite is consciousness,'
attains
and abides in
the realm of infinite consciousness.
This, brethren, is a pleasure
still more excellent,
still more exquisite
than that other.
There may be some, brethren, who aver:
'This is the supreme pleasure and happiness
that beings can experience.'
But of that view of theirs
I do not allow.
Why not?
There is, brethren, another pleasure,
still more excellent and exquisite than this.
■
And what is that?
Herein, brethren, a brother,
passing utterly beyond the realm of infinite consciousness,
with the idea:
'There is nothing at all,'
attains
and abides in
the realm of nothingness.
This, brethren, is a pleasure
still more excellent,
still more exquisite
than that other.
There may be some, brethren, who aver:
'This is the supreme pleasure and happiness
that beings can experience.'
But of that view of theirs
I do not allow.
Why not?
There is, brethren, another pleasure,
still more excellent and exquisite than this.
■
And what is that?
Herein, brethren, a brother,
passing utterly beyond the realm of nothingness,
attains
and abides in
the realm which neither is nor is not perception.
This, brethren, is a pleasure
still more excellent,
still more exquisite
than that other.
There may be some, brethren, who aver:
'This is the supreme pleasure and happiness
that beings can experience.'
But of that view of theirs
I do not allow.
Why not?
There is, brethren, another pleasure,
still more excellent and exquisite than this.
■
And what is that?
Herein, brethren, a brother,
passing utterly beyond the realm
which neither is nor is not perception,
attains
and abides in
(a state which is)
the cessation of perception and feeling.
This, brethren,
is a pleasure
still more excellent,
still more exquisite
(than that other).
§
But, brethren,
there is a possibility
that the Wanderers who hold other views might aver:
'Gotama the recluse spoke
of the cessation of perception and feeling,
and proclaims that as pleasure.
What is the meaning of this
and how is this?'
The Wanderers who hold other views, brethren,
should be replied to thus:
'Friends, the Exalted One did not proclaim that
as pleasure in connection with just pleasant feeling:
but wheresoever, friends, pleasure is obtained,
the Exalted One proclaims just that pleasure,
howsoever
and of whatsoever nature,
as pleasure.'"
