Venerable Mahāmoggallāna recounts how, while developing third absorption, distracting perceptions beset him until the Buddha appeared by psychic power and urged him to settle his mind in that attainment until he mastered it.

SN 40.3 A Question About the Third Absorption

“‘Tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ, tatiyaṁ jhānan’ti vuccati. Katamaṁ nu kho tatiyaṁ jhānanti? Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, etadahosi idha bhikkhu pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharati sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedeti, yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Idaṁ vuccati tatiyaṁ jhānanti.

So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharāmi sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedemi. Yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi. Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, iminā vihārena viharato pītisahagatā saññāmanasikārā samudācaranti.

Atha kho maṁ, āvuso, bhagavā iddhiyā upasaṅkamitvā etadavoca: ‘moggallāna, moggallāna. Mā, brāhmaṇa, tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ pamādo, tatiye jhāne cittaṁ saṇṭhapehi, tatiye jhāne cittaṁ ekodiṁ karohi, tatiye jhāne cittaṁ samādahā’ti.

So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, aparena samayena pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharāmi sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedemi, yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja vihāsiṁ. Yañhi taṁ āvuso sammā vadamāno vadeyya …pe… mahābhiññataṁ patto”ti.

Tatiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“‘Tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ, tatiyaṁ jhānan’ti vuccati.

“They speak of this thing called the ‘third absorption’.

Katamaṁ nu kho tatiyaṁ jhānanti?

What is the third absorption?

Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, etadahosi

It occurred to me:

idha bhikkhu pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharati sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedeti, yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

‘With the fading away of rapture, a mendicant enters and remains 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 tatiyaṁ jhānanti.

This is called the third absorption.’

So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharāmi sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedemi. Yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharāmi.

And so … I was entering and remaining in the third absorption.

Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, iminā vihārena viharato pītisahagatā saññāmanasikārā samudācaranti.

While I was in that meditation, perception and focus accompanied by rapture beset me.

Atha kho maṁ, āvuso, bhagavā iddhiyā upasaṅkamitvā etadavoca:

Then the Buddha came up to me with his psychic power and said,

‘moggallāna, moggallāna.

‘Moggallāna, Moggallāna!

Mā, brāhmaṇa, tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ pamādo, tatiye jhāne cittaṁ saṇṭhapehi, tatiye jhāne cittaṁ ekodiṁ karohi, tatiye jhāne cittaṁ samādahā’ti.

Don’t neglect the third absorption, brahmin! Settle your mind in the third absorption; unify your mind and immerse it in the third absorption.’

So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, aparena samayena pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharāmi sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedemi, yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja vihāsiṁ.

And so, after some time … I entered and remained in the third absorption.

Yañhi taṁ āvuso sammā vadamāno vadeyya …pe… mahābhiññataṁ patto”ti.

So if anyone should be rightly called a disciple who attained to great direct knowledge with help from the Teacher, it’s me.”

Tatiyaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

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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Direct knowledge

Direct knowledge

A deep, firsthand realization or knowing that arises from personal experience, not from study or conceptual understanding; it is an immediate, unmediated apprehension of truth.

Also known as: experiential understanding, direct experience
Pāli: abhiñña
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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
View all discourses →
Psychic power

Psychic power

Supernormal capacities resulting from a practice of collectedness rooted in aspiration, determination, purification of mind, and investigation of phenomena.

Also known as: supernormal abilities, psychic ability, spiritual power
Pāli: iddhi, iddhimant
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