an9.41:9.1 Then I thought,
an9.41:9.2 ‘Why don’t I, with the fading away of rapture, enter and remain in the third absorption, where I will meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, experiencing for themselves the bliss of which the noble ones declare, “Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss”?’
an9.41:9.3 But my mind did not leap forth, gain confidence, settle down, and become decided in freedom from rapture. I didn’t see it as peaceful.
an9.41:9.4 Then I thought,
an9.41:9.5 ‘What is the cause, what is the reason why my mind does not leap forth, gain confidence, settle down, and become decided in freedom from rapture? Why don’t I see it as peaceful?’
an9.41:9.6 Then I thought,
an9.41:9.7 ‘I haven’t seen the drawbacks of rapture, and so I haven’t cultivated that. I haven’t realized the benefits of freedom from rapture, and so I haven’t developed that.
an9.41:9.8 That’s why my mind does not leap forth, gain confidence, settle down, and become decided in freedom from rapture. And it’s why I don’t see it as peaceful.’
an9.41:9.9 Then I thought,
an9.41:9.10 ‘Suppose that, seeing the drawbacks of rapture, I were to cultivate that. And suppose that, realizing the benefits of freedom from rapture, I were to develop that. It’s possible that my mind would leap forth, gain confidence, settle down, and become decided in being free from rapture. And I would see it as peaceful.’
an9.41:9.11 And so, after some time, I saw the drawbacks of rapture and cultivated that, and I realized the benefits of freedom from rapture and developed that.
an9.41:9.12 Then my mind leapt forth, gained confidence, settled down, and became decided in freedom from rapture. I saw it as peaceful.
an9.41:9.13 And so, with the fading away of rapture … I entered and remained in the third absorption.
an9.41:9.14 While I was in that meditation, perception and focus accompanied by rapture beset me, and that was an affliction for me.
an9.41:9.15 Suppose a happy person were to experience pain; that would be an affliction for them.
an9.41:9.16 In the same way, when perception and focus accompanied by rapture beset me, that was an affliction for me.

