[659] "'One should know how to evaluate pleasure (sukhavinicchaya); having known how to evaluate pleasure, one should pursue pleasure within oneself' — so indeed this was said. And with reference to what was this said?
Bhikkhus, there are these five cords of sensual pleasure (kāmaguṇā). What five? Forms cognizable by the eye that are wished for, desired, agreeable, of a dear nature, connected with sensuality, provocative of lust; sounds cognizable by the ear …; odours cognizable by the nose …; tastes cognizable by the tongue …; tangibles cognizable by the body that are wished for, desired, agreeable, of a dear nature, connected with sensuality, provocative of lust. These, bhikkhus, are the five cords of sensual pleasure.
Bhikkhus, whatever pleasure and joy (somanassa) arises in dependence on these five cords of sensual pleasure — this is called sensual pleasure, a worldling's pleasure, a filthy pleasure, an ignoble pleasure. Of this pleasure I say: it should not be pursued, it should not be developed, it should not be cultivated; it should be feared.
Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, enters and dwells in the first jhāna, which is accompanied by thought and examination (vitakka-vicāra), with rapture and pleasure born of seclusion. With the subsiding of thought and examination, he enters and dwells in the second jhāna, which has internal confidence and unification of mind (citta), is without thought and without examination, with rapture and pleasure born of concentration (samādhi) … the third jhāna … the fourth jhāna. This is called the pleasure of renunciation, the pleasure of solitude, the pleasure of peace, the pleasure of awakening. Of this pleasure I say: it should be pursued, it should be developed, it should be cultivated; it should not be feared.
So when it was said: 'One should know how to evaluate pleasure; having known how to evaluate pleasure, one should pursue pleasure within oneself' — it is with reference to this that it was said."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.