SN 36.11 Rahogata Sutta

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SN 36.11 Rahogata Sutta : Alone
Then a certain monk went to the Lord Buddha and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there he said to the Lord Buddha: "Just now, lord, while I was alone in seclusion, this train of thought arose in my awareness: 'Three feelings/sensations have been spoken of by the Lord Buddha: a feeling/sensation of pleasure, a feeling/sensation of pain,(1) & a feeling/sensation of neither pleasure nor pain. These are the three feelings/sensations spoken of by the Lord Buddha. But the Lord Buddha has said: "Whatever is felt comes under stress/suffering." Now in what connection was this stated by the Lord Buddha: "Whatever is felt comes under stress/suffering?"'"

"Excellent, monk. Excellent. These three feelings/sensations have been spoken of by me: a feeling/sensation of pleasure, a feeling/sensation of pain, & a feeling/sensation of neither pleasure nor pain. These are the three feelings/sensations spoken of by me. But I have also said: 'Whatever is felt comes under stress/suffering.' That I have stated simply in connection with the inconstancy of fabrications. That I have stated simply in connection with the nature of fabrications to end... in connection with the nature of fabrications to fall away... to fade away... to cease... in connection with the nature of fabrications to change.

"And I have also taught the step-by-step cessation of fabrications. When one has attained the first jhana, speech has ceased. When one has attained the second jhana, directed thought & evaluation have ceased. When one has attained the third jhana, rapture has ceased. When one has attained the fourth jhana, in-and-out breathing has ceased. When one has attained the dimension of the infinitude of space, the perception of forms has ceased. When one has attained the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness, the perception of the dimension of the infinitude of space has ceased. When one has attained the dimension of nothingness, the perception of the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness has ceased. When one has attained the dimension of neither-perception nor non-perception, the perception of the dimension of nothingness has ceased. When one has attained the cessation of perception & feeling, perception & feeling/sensation have ceased. When a monk's defilements have ended, passion has ceased, aversion has ceased, delusion has ceased.

"Then, monk, I have also taught the step-by-step stilling of fabrications. When one has attained the first jhana, speech has been stilled. When one has attained the second jhana, directed thought & evaluation have been stilled. When one has attained the third jhana, rapture has been stilled. When one has attained the fourth jhana, in-and-out breathing has been stilled. When one has attained the dimension of the infinitude of space, the perception of forms has been stilled. When one has attained the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness, the perception of the dimension of the infinitude of space has been stilled. When one has attained the dimension of nothingness, the perception of the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness has been stilled. When one has attained the dimension of neither-perception nor non-perception, the perception of the dimension of nothingness has been stilled. When one has attained the cessation of perception & feeling, perception & feeling/sensation have been stilled. When a monk's defilements have ended, passion has been stilled, aversion has been stilled, delusion has been stilled.

"There are these six calmings. When one has attained the first jhana, speech has been calmed. When one has attained the second jhana, directed thought & evaluation have been calmed. When one has attained the third jhana, rapture has been calmed. When one has attained the fourth jhana, in-and-out breathing has been calmed. When one has attained the cessation of perception & feeling, perception & feeling/sensation have been calmed. When a monk's defilements have ended, passion has been calmed, aversion has been calmed, delusion has been calmed."

Note:

1.Dukkha. In this sutta translation, "pain" and "stress/suffering" are both used as translations for this word.