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an.5.176 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Rapture

Then Anathapindika the householder, surrounded by about 500 lay followers, went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there the Blessed One said to him, “Householder, you have provided the community of monks with robes, alms food, lodgings, & medicinal requisites for the sick, but you shouldn’t rest content with the thought, ‘We have provided the community of monks with robes, alms food, lodgings, & medicinal requisites for the sick.’ So you should train yourself, ‘Let’s periodically enter & remain in seclusion & rapture.’ That’s how you should train yourself.”

When this was said, Ven. Sariputta said to the Blessed One, “It’s amazing, lord. It’s astounding, how well put that was by the Blessed One: ‘Householder, you have provided the community of monks with robes, alms food, lodgings, & medicinal requisites for the sick, but you shouldn’t rest content with the thought, “We have provided the community of monks with robes, alms food, lodgings, & medicinal requisites for the sick.” So you should train yourself, “Let’s periodically enter & remain in seclusion & rapture.” That’s how you should train yourself.’

“Lord, when a disciple of the noble ones enters & remains in seclusion & rapture, there are five possibilities that do not exist at that time: The pain & distress dependent on sensuality do not exist at that time. The pleasure & joy dependent on sensuality do not exist at that time. The pain & distress dependent on what is unskillful do not exist at that time. The pleasure & joy dependent on what is unskillful do not exist at that time. The pain & distress dependent on what is skillful do not exist at that time. When a disciple of the noble ones enters & remains in seclusion & rapture, these five possibilities do not exist at that time.”

[The Blessed One said:] “Excellent, Sariputta. Excellent. When a disciple of the noble ones enters & remains in seclusion & rapture, there are five possibilities that do not exist at that time: The pain & distress dependent on sensuality do not exist at that time. The pleasure & joy dependent on sensuality do not exist at that time. The pain & distress dependent on what is unskillful do not exist at that time. The pleasure & joy dependent on what is unskillful do not exist at that time. The pain & distress dependent on what is skillful do not exist at that time. When a disciple of the noble ones enters & remains in seclusion & rapture, these five possibilities do not exist at that time.”

- Translator: Thanissaro Bhikkhu

- Editor: Gabriel Laera

Rapture

Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika, escorted by around five hundred lay followers, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:
“Householders, you have supplied the mendicant Saṅgha with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.
But you should not be content with just this much.

So you should train like this:
‘How can we, from time to time, enter and dwell in the rapture of seclusion?’
That’s how you should train.”
When he said this, Venerable Sāriputta said to the Buddha,
“It’s incredible, sir, it’s amazing!
How well said this was by the Buddha:
‘Householders, you have supplied the mendicant Saṅgha with robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick.
But you should not be content with just this much.

So you should train like this:
“How can we, from time to time, enter and dwell in the rapture of seclusion?”
That’s how you should train.’
At a time when a noble disciple enters and dwells in the rapture of seclusion, five things aren’t present in him.
The pain and sadness connected with sensual pleasures.
The pleasure and happiness connected with sensual pleasures.
The pain and sadness connected with the unskillful.
The pleasure and happiness connected with the unskillful.
The pain and sadness connected with the skillful.
At a time when a noble disciple enters and dwells in the rapture of seclusion, these five things aren’t present in him.”
“Good, good, Sāriputta!
At a time when a noble disciple enters and dwells in the rapture of seclusion, five things aren’t present in him.
The pain and sadness connected with sensual pleasures.
The pleasure and happiness connected with sensual pleasures.
The pain and sadness connected with the unskillful.
The pleasure and happiness connected with the unskillful.
The pain and sadness connected with the skillful.
At a time when a noble disciple enters and dwells in the rapture of seclusion, these five things aren’t present in him.”