SN 40.3 — A Question About the Third Absorption

Reading guide

A third confirmation of the same pattern

Rapture (pīti) is exactly what the third absorption's own definition describes fading away — the third residue in a row precisely matching the coarser attainment's own dropped factor, now confirmed three times.

Root Pali begins abbreviating, English does not

From this discourse onward, bilara-data's own root text compresses the closing exchange to “...pe... mahābhiññataṁ patto” — but Sujato's own English spells every one of SN 40.1–9's closing exchanges out in full, confirmed by reading each discourse's own translation file directly.

Key terms

tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ — “the third absorption” — defined by the fading of rapture, equanimity, mindfulness, and awareness

pītisahagatā saññāmanasikārā — “perception and focus accompanied by rapture” — the residue disturbing Moggallāna, matching the factor the third absorption's own definition describes fading

upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī — “equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss” — the noble ones' own description, quoted within the definition itself

mā... pamādo — “don't neglect” — the opening of the Buddha's own fixed exhortation, unchanged in form since SN 40.1

tatiyaṁ — “third” — this discourse's own untranslated closing ordinal

The text

The complete discourse. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).

§1“They speak of this thing called the ‘third absorption’. What is the third absorption? It occurred to me: ‘With the fading away of rapture, a mendicant enters and remains 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 the third absorption.’ And so … I was entering and remaining in the third absorption. While I was in that meditation, perception and focus accompanied by rapture beset me.

§2Then the Buddha came up to me with his psychic power and said, ‘Moggallāna, Moggallāna! Don’t neglect the third absorption, brahmin! Settle your mind in the third absorption; unify your mind and immerse it in the third absorption.’ And so, after some time … I entered and remained in the third absorption. So if anyone should be rightly called a disciple who attained to great direct knowledge with help from the Teacher, it’s me.”

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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 residue disturbs Moggallāna in the third absorption?

Correct: A. The third confirmation in a row of the pattern established at SN 40.1.

Question 2 of 2

What happens to root Pali's own closing exchange from this discourse onward?

Correct: A. Confirmed by reading bilara-data's own root file directly against Sujato's English translation.

Answered 0 of 2 · Correct 0

A Question About the Third Absorption

Why this discourse