Not of the FleshNirāmisasutta

“Mendicants, there is rapture of the flesh, rapture not of the flesh, and rapture even more spiritual than that not of the flesh.“Atthi, bhikkhave, sāmisā pīti, atthi nirāmisā pīti, atthi nirāmisā nirāmisatarā pīti;

There is pleasure of the flesh, pleasure not of the flesh, and pleasure even more spiritual than that not of the flesh.atthi sāmisaṁ sukhaṁ, atthi nirāmisaṁ sukhaṁ, atthi nirāmisā nirāmisataraṁ sukhaṁ;

There is equanimity of the flesh, equanimity not of the flesh, and equanimity even more spiritual than that not of the flesh.atthi sāmisā upekkhā, atthi nirāmisā upekkhā, atthi nirāmisā nirāmisatarā upekkhā;

There is liberation of the flesh, liberation not of the flesh, and liberation even more spiritual than that not of the flesh.atthi sāmiso vimokkho, atthi nirāmiso vimokkho, atthi nirāmisā nirāmisataro vimokkho.

And what is rapture of the flesh?Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sāmisā pīti? There are these five kinds of sensual stimulation.Pañcime, bhikkhave, kāmaguṇā. What five?Katame pañca? Sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. Sounds … Smells … Tastes …Cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā …pe… Touches known by the body, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.kāyaviññeyyā phoṭṭhabbā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā. These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation.Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca kāmaguṇā. The rapture that arises from these five kinds of sensual stimulation is called rapture of the flesh.Yā kho, bhikkhave, ime pañca kāmaguṇe paṭicca uppajjati pīti, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sāmisā pīti.

And what is rapture not of the flesh?Katamā ca, bhikkhave, nirāmisā pīti? It’s when a mendicant, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, they enter and remain 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.Vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. This is called rapture not of the flesh.Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, nirāmisā pīti.

And what is rapture even more spiritual than that not of the flesh?Katamā ca, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisatarā pīti? When a mendicant who has ended the defilements reviews their mind free from greed, hate, and delusion, rapture arises. This is called rapture even more spiritual than that not of the flesh.Yā kho, bhikkhave, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno rāgā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato, dosā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato, mohā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato uppajjati pīti, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisatarā pīti.

And what is pleasure of the flesh?Katamañca, bhikkhave, sāmisaṁ sukhaṁ? Mendicants, there are these five kinds of sensual stimulation.Pañcime, bhikkhave, kāmaguṇā. What five?Katame pañca? Sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. Sounds … Smells … Tastes …Cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā …pe… Touches known by the body, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.kāyaviññeyyā phoṭṭhabbā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā. These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation.Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca kāmaguṇā. The pleasure and happiness that arise from these five kinds of sensual stimulation is called pleasure of the flesh.Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, ime pañca kāmaguṇe paṭicca uppajjati sukhaṁ somanassaṁ, idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sāmisaṁ sukhaṁ.

And what is pleasure not of the flesh?Katamañca, bhikkhave, nirāmisaṁ sukhaṁ? It’s when a mendicant, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. As the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, they enter and remain 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.Vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. And with the fading away of rapture, they enter and remain in the third absorption, where they meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, experiencing for themselves the bliss of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss.’Pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharati sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedeti, yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti: ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. This is called pleasure not of the flesh.Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, nirāmisaṁ sukhaṁ.

And what is pleasure even more spiritual than that not of the flesh?Katamañca, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisataraṁ sukhaṁ? When a mendicant who has ended the defilements reviews their mind free from greed, hate, and delusion, pleasure and happiness arises. This is called pleasure even more spiritual than that not of the flesh.Yaṁ kho, bhikkhave, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno rāgā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato, dosā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato, mohā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato uppajjati sukhaṁ somanassaṁ, idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisataraṁ sukhaṁ.

And what is equanimity of the flesh?Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sāmisā upekkhā? There are these five kinds of sensual stimulation.Pañcime, bhikkhave, kāmaguṇā. What five?Katame pañca? Sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. Sounds … Smells … Tastes …Cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā …pe… Touches known by the body, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.kāyaviññeyyā phoṭṭhabbā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā. These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation.Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca kāmaguṇā. The equanimity that arises from these five kinds of sensual stimulation is called equanimity of the flesh.Yā kho, bhikkhave, ime pañca kāmaguṇe paṭicca uppajjati upekkhā, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sāmisā upekkhā.

And what is equanimity not of the flesh?Katamā ca, bhikkhave, nirāmisā upekkhā? It’s when, with the giving up of pleasure and pain and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, a mendicant enters and remains in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness.Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā, dukkhassa ca pahānā, pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā, adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. This is called equanimity not of the flesh.Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, nirāmisā upekkhā.

And what is equanimity even more spiritual than that not of the flesh?Katamā ca, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisatarā upekkhā? When a mendicant who has ended the defilements reviews their mind free from greed, hate, and delusion, equanimity arises. This is called equanimity even more spiritual than that not of the flesh.Yā kho, bhikkhave, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno rāgā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato, dosā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato, mohā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato uppajjati upekkhā, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisatarā upekkhā.

And what is liberation of the flesh?Katamo ca, bhikkhave, sāmiso vimokkho? Liberation connected with form is liberation of the flesh.Rūpappaṭisaṁyutto vimokkho sāmiso vimokkho.

And what is liberation not of the flesh?Katamo ca, bhikkhave, nirāmiso vimokkho? Liberation connected with the formless is liberation not of the flesh.Arūpappaṭisaṁyutto vimokkho nirāmiso vimokkho.

And what is liberation even more spiritual than that not of the flesh?Katamo ca, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisataro vimokkho? When a mendicant who has ended the defilements reviews their mind free from greed, hate, and delusion, liberation arises. This is called liberation even more spiritual than that not of the flesh.”Yo kho, bhikkhave, khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno rāgā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato, dosā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato, mohā cittaṁ vimuttaṁ paccavekkhato uppajjati vimokkho, ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, nirāmisā nirāmisataro vimokkho”ti.

The Linked Discourses on feelings are complete.Vedanāsaṁyuttaṁ samattaṁ.