Venerable Sāriputta tells Ānanda that in private retreat he entered and remained in the third absorption, with equanimity, mindfulness, and clear awareness while experiencing bliss with the body, explaining how his faculties grew clear and his complexion bright through that meditation.

SN 28.3 Rapture

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

Addasā kho āyasmā ānando …pe…

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

“Idhāhaṁ, āvuso, pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca vihāsiṁ sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedemi; yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi. Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, na evaṁ hoti: ‘ahaṁ tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmī’ti ‘ahaṁ tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpanno’ti ‘ahaṁ tatiyā jhānā vuṭṭhito’ti vā”ti.

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

Tatiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

Sāvatthinidānaṁ.

At Sāvatthī.

Addasā kho āyasmā ānando …pe…

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, pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca vihāsiṁ sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedemi; yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi.

“Reverend, with the fading away of rapture, I entered and remained in the third absorption, where I meditated with equanimity, mindful and aware, personally experiencing the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’

Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, na evaṁ hoti:

But it didn’t occur to me:

‘ahaṁ tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmī’ti ‘ahaṁ tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpanno’ti ‘ahaṁ tatiyā jhānā vuṭṭhito’ti vā”ti.

‘I am entering the third absorption’ or ‘I have entered the third absorption’ or ‘I am emerging from the third 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 tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpajjāmī’ti ‘ahaṁ tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpanno’ti ‘ahaṁ tatiyā jhānā vuṭṭhito’ti vā”ti.

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

Tatiyaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

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
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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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Equanimity

Equanimity

A state of mental poise and balance, characterized by non-reactivity and composure in the face of agreeable or disagreeable experiences.

Also known as: mental poise, mental balance, equipose, non-reactivity, composure
Pāli: upekkha
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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
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Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
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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
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Last updated on July 27, 2026