[238] 34. On one occasion the Venerable Sāriputta was dwelling at Rājagaha, in the Veḷuvana, the Squirrels' Feeding Ground (Kalandakanivāpa). There the Venerable Sāriputta addressed the bhikkhus: "Happiness, friends, is this Nibbāna; happiness, friends, is this Nibbāna." When this was said, the Venerable Udāyī said to the Venerable Sāriputta: "But what happiness is there here, friend Sāriputta, when here there is nothing felt?"
"Just this, friend, is the happiness here: that here there is nothing felt. There are, friends, these five cords of sensual pleasure (kāmaguṇa). Which five? Forms cognizable by the eye that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, endearing, connected with sensuality, enticing; sounds cognizable by the ear …; odours cognizable by the nose …; tastes cognizable by the tongue …; tangible objects cognizable by the body that are desirable, lovely, agreeable, endearing, connected with sensuality, enticing. These, friends, are the five cords of sensual pleasure. Whatever happiness and joy arises, friends, in dependence on these five cords of sensual pleasure — this, friends, is called sensual happiness.
"Here, friends, a bhikkhu, secluded indeed from sensual pleasures, … enters and dwells in the first jhāna. If, friends, while that bhikkhu is dwelling in this dwelling, perceptions and attentions connected with sensuality occur to him, that is an affliction for him. Just as, friends, pain might arise for one who is happy, only to the extent of afflicting him, even so those perceptions and attentions connected with sensuality occur to him, and that is an affliction for him. Now whatever is an affliction has been called suffering (dukkha) by the Blessed One. By this method too, friends, it may be understood how Nibbāna is happiness.
"Again, friends, with the subsiding of thought and examination (vitakka-vicāra), … a bhikkhu enters and dwells in the second jhāna. If, friends, while that bhikkhu is dwelling in this dwelling, perceptions and attentions connected with thought occur to him, that is an affliction for him. Just as, friends, pain might arise for one who is happy, only to the extent of afflicting him, even so those perceptions and attentions connected with thought occur to him, and that is an affliction for him. Now whatever is an affliction has been called suffering by the Blessed One. By this method too, friends, it may be understood how Nibbāna is happiness.
"Again, friends, with the fading away of rapture (pīti), … a bhikkhu enters and dwells in the third jhāna. If, friends, while that bhikkhu is dwelling in this dwelling, perceptions and attentions connected with rapture occur to him, that is an affliction for him. Just as, friends, pain might arise for one who is happy, only to the extent of afflicting him, even so those perceptions and attentions connected with rapture occur to him, and that is an affliction for him. Now whatever is an affliction has been called suffering by the Blessed One. By this method too, friends, it may be understood how Nibbāna is happiness.
"Again, friends, with the abandoning of pleasure, … a bhikkhu enters and dwells in the fourth jhāna. If, friends, while that bhikkhu is dwelling in this dwelling, perceptions and attentions connected with equanimity (upekkhā) occur to him, that is an affliction for him. Just as, friends, pain might arise for one who is happy, only to the extent of afflicting him, even so those perceptions and attentions connected with equanimity occur to him, and that is an affliction for him. Now whatever is an affliction has been called suffering by the Blessed One. By this method too, friends, it may be understood how Nibbāna is happiness.
"Again, friends, with the complete transcending of perceptions of form, with the passing away of perceptions of sensory impingement (paṭigha), with non-attention to perceptions of diversity, [aware that] 'space is infinite,' a bhikkhu enters and dwells in the Sphere of Infinity of Space (ākāsānañcāyatana). If, friends, while that bhikkhu is dwelling in this dwelling, perceptions and attentions connected with form occur to him, that is an affliction for him. Just as, friends, pain might arise for one who is happy, only to the extent of afflicting him, even so those perceptions and attentions connected with form occur to him, and that is an affliction for him. Now whatever is an affliction has been called suffering by the Blessed One. By this method too, friends, it may be understood how Nibbāna is happiness.
"Again, friends, having completely transcended the Sphere of Infinity of Space, [aware that] 'consciousness is infinite,' a bhikkhu enters and dwells in the Sphere of Infinity of Consciousness (viññāṇañcāyatana). If, friends, while that bhikkhu is dwelling in this dwelling, perceptions and attentions connected with the Sphere of Infinity of Space occur to him, that is an affliction for him. Just as, friends, pain might arise for one who is happy, only to the extent of afflicting him, even so those perceptions and attentions connected with the Sphere of Infinity of Space occur to him, and that is an affliction for him. Now whatever is an affliction has been called suffering by the Blessed One. By this method too, friends, it may be understood how Nibbāna is happiness.
"Again, friends, having completely transcended the Sphere of Infinity of Consciousness, [aware that] 'there is nothing,' a bhikkhu enters and dwells in the Sphere of Nothingness (ākiñcaññāyatana). If, friends, while that bhikkhu is dwelling in this dwelling, perceptions and attentions connected with the Sphere of Infinity of Consciousness occur to him, that is an affliction for him. Just as, friends, pain might arise for one who is happy, only to the extent of afflicting him, even so those perceptions and attentions connected with the Sphere of Infinity of Consciousness occur to him, and that is an affliction for him. Now whatever is an affliction has been called suffering by the Blessed One. By this method too, friends, it may be understood how Nibbāna is happiness.
"Again, friends, having completely transcended the Sphere of Nothingness, a bhikkhu enters and dwells in the Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception (nevasaññānāsaññāyatana). If, friends, while that bhikkhu is dwelling in this dwelling, perceptions and attentions connected with the Sphere of Nothingness occur to him, that is an affliction for him. Just as, friends, pain might arise for one who is happy, only to the extent of afflicting him, even so those perceptions and attentions connected with the Sphere of Nothingness occur to him, and that is an affliction for him. Now whatever is an affliction has been called suffering by the Blessed One. By this method too, friends, it may be understood how Nibbāna is happiness.
"Again, friends, having completely transcended the Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception, a bhikkhu enters and dwells in the cessation of perception and feeling (saññāvedayitanirodha), and, having seen with wisdom, his taints (āsava) are utterly destroyed. By this method too, friends, it may be understood how Nibbāna is happiness."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.