Reading guide
Rapture itself now fades
"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'" — the rapture that characterized both the first and second absorptions has itself now given way, leaving a subtler, equanimity-grounded bliss.
A quoted verse, not just a description
This discourse's title ("Rapture") names what falls away rather than what remains — and uniquely among this saṃyutta's first three discourses, quotes a standing canonical formula ("the noble ones declare...") rather than describing the attainment purely in Sāriputta's own first-person terms.
The identical absence, now at the third level
"It didn't occur to me: 'I am entering the third absorption'..." — the same self-referential absence demonstrated twice already, holding steady as the attainments themselves grow progressively subtler.
A pattern now firmly established
By this third repetition, the discourse's own rhythm is fully set: report the attainment, note the absence of self-narration, receive Ānanda's identical diagnosis — a structure this saṃyutta will continue through SN 28.4 before compressing.
Key terms
The text
§1At Sāvatthī. Venerable Ānanda saw Venerable Sāriputta and said to him: “Reverend Sāriputta, your faculties are so very clear, and your complexion is pure and bright. What meditation were you practicing today?”
§2“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.’ But it didn’t occur to me: ‘I am entering the third absorption’ or ‘I have entered the third absorption’ or ‘I am emerging from the third absorption’.” “That must be because Venerable Sāriputta has long ago totally eradicated I-making, mine-making, and the underlying tendency to conceit. That’s why it didn’t occur to you: ‘I am entering the third absorption’ or ‘I have entered the third absorption’ or ‘I am emerging from the third absorption’.”
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