The Related Suttas Collection 28.3

1. With Sāriputta

(Mental) joy

At Sāvatthī.

Venerable Ānanda saw Venerable Sāriputta and said to him:

“Friend Sāriputta, your faculties are so very clear, and your complexion is pure and bright. What meditation were you practicing today?”

“Friend, with the fading away of (mental) joy, I entered and remained in the third jhāna, where I meditated with equanimity, mindful and aware, personally feeling deeply the (bodily) pleasure of which the noble ones declare, ‘Equanimous and mindful, a pleasure is to meditate.’ But it didn’t occur to me: ‘I am entering the third jhāna’ or ‘I have entered the third jhāna’ or ‘I am emerging from the third jhāna’.”

“That must be because Venerable Sāriputta has long ago totally eradicated ego, possessiveness, and the underlying tendency to conceit. That’s why it didn’t occur to you: ‘I am entering the third jhāna’ or ‘I have entered the third jhāna’ or ‘I am emerging from the third jhāna’.”