2. Rahogatavagga

Saṁyutta Nikāya 36.17

Linked Discourses 36.17

2. Rahogatavagga

2. In Private

Paṭhamasambahulasutta

With Several Mendicants (1st)

Atha kho sambahulā bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu. Ekamantaṁ nisinnā kho te bhikkhū bhagavantaṁ etadavocuṁ:

Then several mendicants went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

“katamā nu kho, bhante, vedanā, katamo vedanāsamudayo, katamo vedanānirodho, katamā vedanānirodhagāminī paṭipadā?

“Sir, what is feeling? What’s the origin of feeling? What’s the cessation of feeling? What’s the practice that leads to the cessation of feeling?

Ko vedanāya assādo, ko ādīnavo, kiṁ nissaraṇan”ti?

And what is feeling’s gratification, drawback, and escape?”

“Tisso imā, bhikkhave, vedanā—

“Mendicants, there are these three feelings:

sukhā vedanā, dukkhā vedanā, adukkhamasukhā vedanā—

pleasant, painful, and neutral.

imā vuccanti, bhikkhave, vedanā.

These are called feelings.

Phassasamudayā vedanāsamudayo;

Feeling originates from contact.

phassanirodhā vedanānirodho.

When contact ceases, feeling ceases.

Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo vedanānirodhagāminī paṭipadā, seyyathidaṁ—

The practice that leads to the cessation of feelings is simply this noble eightfold path, that is:

sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi.

right view, right purpose, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right immersion.

Yaṁ vedanaṁ paṭicca uppajjati sukhaṁ somanassaṁ, ayaṁ vedanāya assādo.

The pleasure and happiness that arise from feeling: this is its gratification.

Yaṁ vedanā aniccā dukkhā vipariṇāmadhammā, ayaṁ vedanāya ādīnavo.

That feeling is impermanent, suffering, and perishable: this is its drawback.

Yo vedanāya chandarāgavinayo chandarāgappahānaṁ, idaṁ vedanāya nissaraṇaṁ.

Removing and giving up desire and greed for feeling: this is its escape.

Atha kho pana, bhikkhave, mayā anupubbasaṅkhārānaṁ nirodho akkhāto.

But I have also explained the progressive cessation of activities. …

Paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ samāpannassa vācā niruddhā hoti …pe…

For someone who has attained the first absorption, speech has ceased. …

khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno rāgo niruddho hoti, doso niruddho hoti, moho niruddho hoti.

For a mendicant who has ended the defilements, greed, hate, and delusion have ceased.

Atha kho pana, bhikkhave, mayā anupubbasaṅkhārānaṁ vūpasamo akkhāto.

And I have also explained the progressive settling of activities.

Paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ samāpannassa vācā vūpasantā hoti …pe…

For someone who has attained the first absorption, speech has stilled. …

khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno rāgo vūpasanto hoti, doso vūpasanto hoti, moho vūpasanto hoti.

For a mendicant who has ended the defilements, greed, hate, and delusion have stilled.

Chayimā, bhikkhave, passaddhiyo.

There are these six levels of tranquility.

Paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ samāpannassa vācā paṭippassaddhā hoti.

For someone who has attained the first absorption, speech has been tranquilized.

Dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpannassa vitakkavicārā paṭippassaddhā honti.

For someone who has attained the second absorption, the placing of the mind and keeping it connected have been tranquilized.

Tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ samāpannassa pīti paṭippassaddhā hoti.

For someone who has attained the third absorption, rapture has been tranquilized.

Catutthaṁ jhānaṁ samāpannassa assāsapassāsā paṭippassaddhā honti.

For someone who has attained the fourth absorption, breathing has been tranquilized.

Saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ samāpannassa saññā ca vedanā ca paṭippassaddhā honti.

For someone who has attained the cessation of perception and feeling, perception and feeling have been tranquilized.

Khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno rāgo paṭippassaddho hoti, doso paṭippassaddho hoti, moho paṭippassaddho hotī”ti.

For a mendicant who has ended the defilements, greed, hate, and delusion have been tranquilized.”

Sattamaṁ.