Reading guide
Four qualities, the same three-tier structure applied to each
Rapture (pīti), pleasure (sukha), equanimity (upekkhā), and liberation (vimutti) each receive the identical sāmisa/nirāmisa/nirāmisā-nirāmisatarā treatment — not four different arguments but one structure applied four times to four related but distinct qualities.
The first tier: sensual stimulation, named identically each time
“Of the flesh” rapture, pleasure, and equanimity are each defined by the identical five kinds of sensual stimulation already met at SN 36.19 and SN 36.20 — sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches that are likable, desirable, and arousing.
The second tier: absorption, at a different depth for each quality
“Not of the flesh” rapture reaches only the first two absorptions (where rapture itself is still present); pleasure reaches the first three (extending into the third absorption's own equanimous bliss); equanimity is located specifically in the fourth absorption alone — each quality's second tier matched to the exact meditative stage where that specific quality is most fully present.
A comparative built on a doubled word, all pointing to the same source
“Nirāmisā nirāmisatarā” (“not-of-the-flesh, more not-of-the-flesh”) is the discourse's own way of naming a degree beyond nirāmisa itself, rather than introducing a new term entirely. For all four qualities, this highest tier is defined identically: not a deeper absorption but an arahant's own reviewing of a mind already freed from greed, hate, and delusion.
Liberation's own asymmetry, and the saṃyutta's own final, translated words
Liberation alone skips the meditative middle tier entirely: “of the flesh” liberation is simply liberation connected with form, “not of the flesh” is liberation connected with the formless — no absorption-by-absorption breakdown as with the other three qualities — before the identical arahant's-review formula closes the set. The untranslated Pali then gives this vagga's own ordinal (“the third”) and uddāna, before the saṃyutta's own closing line, genuinely translated: “The Linked Discourses on Feeling are complete.”
Key terms
The text
§1“Mendicants, there is rapture of the flesh, rapture not of the flesh, and rapture even more spiritual than that not of the flesh. There is pleasure of the flesh, pleasure not of the flesh, and pleasure even more spiritual than that not of the flesh. There is equanimity of the flesh, equanimity not of the flesh, and equanimity even more spiritual than that not of the flesh. There is liberation of the flesh, liberation not of the flesh, and liberation even more spiritual than that not of the flesh. And what is rapture of the flesh? There are these five kinds of sensual stimulation. What five? Sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. Sounds … Smells … Tastes … Touches known by the body, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation. The rapture that arises from these five kinds of sensual stimulation is called rapture of the flesh.
§2And what is rapture not of the flesh? 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. 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. This is called rapture not of the flesh.
§3And what is rapture even more spiritual than that not of the flesh? 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.
§4And what is pleasure of the flesh? Mendicants, there are these five kinds of sensual stimulation. What five? Sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. Sounds … Smells … Tastes … Touches known by the body, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation. The pleasure and happiness that arise from these five kinds of sensual stimulation is called pleasure of the flesh.
§5And what is pleasure not of the flesh? 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. 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. And with the fading away of rapture, they enter and remain 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.’ This is called pleasure not of the flesh.
§6And what is pleasure even more spiritual than that not of the flesh? 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.
§7And what is equanimity of the flesh? There are these five kinds of sensual stimulation. What five? Sights known by the eye, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. Sounds … Smells … Tastes … Touches known by the body, which are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing. These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation. The equanimity that arises from these five kinds of sensual stimulation is called equanimity of the flesh.
§8And what is equanimity not of the flesh? 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. This is called equanimity not of the flesh.
§9And what is equanimity even more spiritual than that not of the flesh? 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.
§10And what is liberation of the flesh? Liberation connected with form is liberation of the flesh.
§11And what is liberation not of the flesh? Liberation connected with the formless is liberation not of the flesh.
§12And what is liberation even more spiritual than that not of the flesh? 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.”
§13The Linked Discourses on feeling are complete.
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