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Saṃyutta Nikāya · Discourse 38.6

Ultimate Solace

Paramassāsappattasutta — Jambukhādakavagga

Setting
Not restated; continues directly as dialogue from SN 38.1's own setting
Speakers
The wanderer Jambukhādaka questioning Venerable Sāriputta
Form
SN 38.5's own formula, with one further condition added
Length
<1 minute to read
Northern parallel
A rough counterpart may exist in the Chinese Saṃyukta-āgama (T99), though this reading guide does not assert a specific matching sutra number
Difficulty
★☆☆☆☆ — a single added clause distinguishes this discourse from its immediate predecessor

Why this discourse

This discourse names “ultimate solace” (paramassāsappatta), confirming the pairing SN 38.5 set up: the identical five-part understanding of the six fields of contact, but now paired with being “freed by not grasping” (anupādā vimutto) after that understanding — a single added clause distinguishing ordinary “solace” from its “ultimate” counterpart.

Reading guide

One clause added, one attainment surpassed

Everything SN 38.5 named for solace, plus “freed by not grasping” — understanding the six fields is necessary for both attainments, but “ultimate” solace requires the liberation that follows from it as well.

Key terms

paramassāsappatto — “one who has gained ultimate solace” — this discourse's own title term, distinguished from SN 38.5's plain assāsappatto
anupādā vimutto — “freed by not grasping” — the single condition added beyond SN 38.5's own formula
āvuso — “reverend, friend” — the reciprocal address term Jambukhādaka and Sāriputta use throughout this saṃyutta
pañhā — “question” — the recurring suffix naming every discourse's own Pali title throughout this saṃyutta
chaṭṭhaṁ — “sixth” — this discourse's own untranslated closing ordinal

The text

The portion of this discourse Sujato's own English translation renders. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).

§1“Reverend Sāriputta, they speak of this thing called ‘gaining ultimate solace’. At what point do you gain ultimate solace?” “When a mendicant is freed by not grasping after truly understanding the six fields of contact’s origin, disappearance, gratification, drawback, and escape, at that point they’ve gained ultimate solace.” “But, reverend, is there a path and a practice for realizing this ultimate solace?” “There is.” …

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Self-check quiz

2 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.

Question 1 of 2
What single condition distinguishes "ultimate solace" from SN 38.5's own plain "solace"?
Correct: A. The identical five-part formula, plus one added clause: liberation without grasping.
Question 2 of 2
What does understanding the six fields of contact accomplish on its own, according to this pair of discourses?
Correct: A. A shared foundation for both attainments, with ultimate solace requiring one further step.
Answered 0 of 2 · Correct 0

Further reading

← PreviousSN 38.5 · Solace