Venerable Sāriputta tells Ānanda that in private retreat he entered and remained in the second absorption, with internal confidence and unified mind without placing the mind and keeping it connected, explaining how his faculties grew clear and his complexion bright through that meditation.

SN 28.2 Without Placing the Mind

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Addasā kho āyasmā ānando …pe… āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavoca:

“vippasannāni kho te, āvuso sāriputta, indriyāni; parisuddho mukhavaṇṇo pariyodāto. Katamenāyasmā sāriputto ajja vihārena vihāsī”ti?

“Idhāhaṁ, āvuso, vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi. Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, na evaṁ hoti: ‘ahaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmī’ti ‘ahaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpanno’ti ‘ahaṁ dutiyā jhānā vuṭṭhito’ti vā”ti.

Tathā hi panāyasmato sāriputtassa dīgharattaṁ ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā susamūhatā. Tasmā āyasmato sāriputtassa na evaṁ hoti: “‘ahaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmī’ti ‘ahaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpanno’ti ‘ahaṁ dutiyā jhānā vuṭṭhito’ti vā”ti.

Dutiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Addasā kho āyasmā ānando …pe… āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavoca:

Venerable Ānanda saw Venerable Sāriputta and said to him:

“vippasannāni kho te, āvuso sāriputta, indriyāni; parisuddho mukhavaṇṇo pariyodāto.

“Reverend Sāriputta, your faculties are so very clear, and your complexion is pure and bright.

Katamenāyasmā sāriputto ajja vihārena vihāsī”ti?

What meditation were you practicing today?”

“Idhāhaṁ, āvuso, vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi.

“Reverend, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected were stilled, I entered and remained 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.

Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, na evaṁ hoti:

But it didn’t occur to me:

‘ahaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmī’ti ‘ahaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpanno’ti ‘ahaṁ dutiyā jhānā vuṭṭhito’ti vā”ti.

‘I am entering the second absorption’ or ‘I have entered the second absorption’ or ‘I am emerging from the second absorption’.”

Tathā hi panāyasmato sāriputtassa dīgharattaṁ ahaṅkāramamaṅkāramānānusayā susamūhatā.

“That must be because Venerable Sāriputta has long ago totally eradicated I-making, mine-making, and the underlying tendency to conceit.

Tasmā āyasmato sāriputtassa na evaṁ hoti:

That’s why it didn’t occur to you:

“‘ahaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmī’ti ‘ahaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpanno’ti ‘ahaṁ dutiyā jhānā vuṭṭhito’ti vā”ti.

‘I am entering the second absorption’ or ‘I have entered the second absorption’ or ‘I am emerging from the second absorption’.”

Dutiyaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
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Collectedness

Collectedness

A mental quality of composure where awareness is gathered, steady, rather than scattered or tense. In such collectedness, supported by mindfulness and right view, experience is clearly known and can be wisely contemplated.

Also known as: mental composure, stability of mind, stillness of mind, concentration, undistracted awareness
Pāli: samādhi, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Conceit

Conceit

Self-view expressed as comparison—seeing oneself as superior, inferior, or equal; the persistent “I am” conceit (asmimāna) that underlies identification and fuels rebirth

Also known as: arrogance, egotism, pride, self-importance, tendency of self-comparison
Pāli: māna, atimāna, unnaḷa
View all discourses →
Cultivation

Cultivation

The active practice of 'bringing into being' wholesome states. It is the deliberate nurturing of the bright state of mind.

Also known as: development, improvement, meditation, nurturing, growth
Pāli: bhāvanā
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Jhana

Jhana

An abiding with a steady, collected awareness that is attained through seclusion from the five hindrances and unwholesome mental states. When supported by right view, a jhāna can be a basis for the wearing away of taints and directing the mind toward the vision of Nibbāna.

Also known as: meditation, undistracted awareness, absorption, mental absorption
Pāli: jhāna, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
View all discourses →
Uplifting joy

Uplifting joy

An energetic mental quality that creates a sense of lift or thrill; it ranges from a gentle delight to overwhelming rapture.

Also known as: heartfelt joy, mental exhilaration, rapture, lit. refreshment
Pāli: pīti
View all discourses →

Last updated on July 27, 2026