[424] "And what, Ānanda, is another happiness more excellent and more sublime than that happiness? Here, Ānanda, a bhikkhu, by completely surmounting the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception (nevasaññānāsaññāyatana), enters and dwells in the cessation of perception and feeling (saññāvedayitanirodha). This, Ānanda, is another happiness more excellent and more sublime than that happiness.
"Now it is possible, Ānanda, that wanderers of other sects (aññatitthiyā paribbājakā) might speak thus: 'The ascetic Gotama speaks of the cessation of perception and feeling, and he declares it to be included in happiness. What indeed is that? How indeed is that?' When wanderers of other sects speak thus, Ānanda, they should be told: 'Friends, the Blessed One does not declare a state to be included in happiness only with reference to pleasant feeling (vedanā); rather, friends, wherever happiness is found, and in whatever way, the Tathāgata declares that to be included in happiness.'"
The ninth [sutta].
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.