3.
The Discourse on the Happiness of Nibbāna
34.
On one occasion the Venerable Sāriputta was dwelling at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Feeding Ground.
There the Venerable Sāriputta addressed the monks:
"This is happiness, friends, Nibbāna.
This is happiness, friends, Nibbāna."
When this was said, the Venerable Udāyī said this to the Venerable Sāriputta -
"But what, friend Sāriputta, is the happiness here where there is nothing felt?"
"Just this, friend, is the happiness here, that there is nothing felt.
There are, friends, these five kinds of sensual pleasure.
Which five?
Forms cognisable by eye that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, enticing, connected with sensuality, arousing; sounds cognisable by ear... etc.
odours cognisable by nose...
flavours cognisable by tongue...
tangible objects cognisable by body that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, enticing, connected with sensuality, arousing -
These, friends, are the five kinds of sensual pleasure.
Whatever happiness and pleasure arises dependent on these five kinds of sensual pleasure, this is called, friends, sensual happiness.
"Here, friends, a monk, quite secluded from sensual pleasures... etc. he enters and dwells in the first meditative absorption. If, friends, for that monk dwelling with this abiding, perceptions and attention accompanied by sensuality occur to him, that is an affliction for him. Just as, friends, suffering would arise for one who is happy, only for affliction; just so those perceptions and attention accompanied by sensuality occur to him. That is an affliction for him. Whatever, friends, is affliction, that has been called suffering by the Blessed One. By this method too, friends, it should be known how Nibbāna is happiness.
"Furthermore, friends, with the subsiding of applied and sustained thought, a monk... etc. he enters and dwells in the second meditative absorption. If, friends, for that monk dwelling with this abiding, perceptions and attention accompanied by applied thought occur to him, that is an affliction for him. Just as, friends, suffering would arise for one who is happy, only for affliction; just so those perceptions and attention accompanied by applied thought occur to him. That is an affliction for him. Whatever, friends, is affliction, that has been called suffering by the Blessed One. By this method too, friends, it should be known how Nibbāna is happiness.
"Furthermore, friends, with the fading away of rapture, a monk... etc. he enters and dwells in the third meditative absorption. If, friends, for that monk dwelling with this abiding, perceptions and attention accompanied by rapture occur to him, that is an affliction for him. Just as, friends, suffering would arise for one who is happy, only for affliction; just so those perceptions and attention accompanied by rapture occur to him. That is an affliction for him. Whatever, friends, is affliction, that has been called suffering by the Blessed One. By this method too, friends, it should be known how Nibbāna is happiness.
"Furthermore, friends, with the abandoning of pleasure, a monk... etc. he enters and dwells in the fourth meditative absorption. If, friends, for that monk dwelling with this abiding, perceptions and attention accompanied by equanimity occur to him, that is an affliction for him. Just as, friends, suffering would arise for one who is happy, only for affliction; just so those perceptions and attention accompanied by equanimity occur to him. That is an affliction for him. Whatever, friends, is affliction, that has been called suffering by the Blessed One. By this method too, friends, it should be known how Nibbāna is happiness.
"Furthermore, friends, with the complete transcendence of perceptions of material form, with the passing away of perceptions of sensory impingement, with inattention to perceptions of diversity, aware that 'space is infinite,' a monk enters and dwells in the plane of infinite space. If, friends, for that monk dwelling with this abiding, perceptions and attention accompanied by material form occur to him, that is an affliction for him. Just as, friends, suffering would arise for one who is happy, only for affliction; just so those perceptions and attention accompanied by material form occur to him. That is an affliction for him. Whatever, friends, is affliction, that has been called suffering by the Blessed One. By this method too, friends, it should be known how Nibbāna is happiness.
"Furthermore, friends, having completely transcended the plane of infinite space, aware that 'consciousness is infinite,' a monk enters and dwells in the plane of infinite consciousness. If, friends, for that monk dwelling with this abiding, perceptions and attention accompanied by the plane of infinite space occur to him, that is an affliction for him. Just as, friends, suffering would arise for one who is happy, only for affliction; just so those perceptions and attention accompanied by the plane of infinite space occur to him. That is an affliction for him. Whatever, friends, is affliction, that has been called suffering by the Blessed One. By this method too, friends, it should be known how Nibbāna is happiness.
"Furthermore, friends, a monk, having completely transcended the plane of infinite consciousness, aware that 'there is nothing,' enters and dwells in the plane of nothingness. If, friends, for that monk dwelling with this abiding, perceptions and attention accompanied by the plane of infinite consciousness occur to him, that is an affliction for him. Just as, friends, suffering would arise for one who is happy, only for affliction; just so those perceptions and attention accompanied by the plane of infinite consciousness occur to him. That is an affliction for him. Whatever, friends, is affliction, that has been called suffering by the Blessed One. By this method too, friends, it should be known how Nibbāna is happiness.
"Furthermore, friends, a monk, having completely transcended the plane of nothingness, enters and dwells in the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception. If, friends, for that monk dwelling with this abiding, perceptions and attention accompanied by the plane of nothingness occur to him, that is an affliction for him. Just as, friends, suffering would arise for one who is happy, only for affliction; just so those perceptions and attention accompanied by the plane of nothingness occur to him. That is an affliction for him. Whatever, friends, is affliction, that has been called suffering by the Blessed One. By this method too, friends, it should be known how Nibbāna is happiness.
"Furthermore, friends, a monk, having completely transcended the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, enters and dwells in the cessation of perception and feeling, and having seen with wisdom, his mental corruptions are utterly eliminated. By this method too, friends, it should be known how Nibbāna is happiness." The third.