Here is an interesting quote from the Khuddaka Nikaya (The Therigatha):
The Pali of the last verse is:Organ and object in the life of sense, 284
[And then the factors of the Nobler life :]
The Ariyan Truths, the Faculties, the Powers,
The Seven Features of Awakening,
The Eightfold Way, leading to utmost good. (171)
I heard her words, her bidding I obeyed.
While 285 passed the first watch of the night there rose
Long memories of the bygone line of lives. (172)
While passed the second watch, the Heavenly Eye,
Purview celestial, I clarified.
While passed the last watch of the night, I burst
And rent aside the gloom of ignorance. (173)
Then, letting joy and blissful ease of mind
Suffuse my body, seven days I sat,
Ere stretching out cramped limbs I rose again.
Was it not rent indeed, that muffling mist? 286 (174)
http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/ ... .html#LVII
Since this quote mentions the overcoming of ignorance I think it refers to arahantship (if not it at least refers to a stream winner). In any case, the quote is describing the attainment of nibbana. Specifically, the quote is describing the fruition attainment phala. This is clear because it says that she, the arahant, was absorbed for 7 days and then rose from it. 7 days is the maxim amount of time one can be in fruition attainment phala.174. Pītisukhena ca kāyaṃ eritvā vihariṃ tadā,
Sattamiyā pāde pasāresiṃ tamokkhandhaṃ padāliyāti.
Itthaṃ sudaṃ vijayā theri gāthāyo abhasīti.
Here is the interesting part. While she was in fruition attainment she experienced in the body (awareness occupying the body) joy (piti) and bliss (sukha).
This means that joy (piti) and bliss (sukha) are experienced in nibbana in fruition attainment phala. In nibbana a person experiences joy and bliss.
Not only that, but after exiting from fruition attainment a person can still experiences joy (piti) and bliss (sukha) as Saṁyutta Nikāya IV 235 states:
My question is, do you find any reasonable objections to this reasoning (especially the one on piti and sukha in fruition attainment), or is it sound to you?And what is the rapture [piti] more not-of-the-flesh than that not of the flesh? Whatever rapture arises in a fermentation-ended [arahant] monk as he is reflecting on his mind released from passion, reflecting on his mind released from aversion, reflecting on his mind released from delusion, that is called rapture more not-of-the-flesh than that not of the flesh. . . . And what is the pleasure [sukha] more not-of-the-flesh than that not of the flesh? Whatever pleasure arises in a fermentation-ended monk as he is reflecting on his mind released from passion, reflecting on his mind released from aversion, reflecting on his mind released from delusion, that is called pleasure more not-of-the-flesh than that not of the flesh. . . . And what is the equanimity more not-of-the-flesh than that not of the flesh? Whatever equanimity arises in a fermentation-ended monk as he is reflecting on his mind released from passion, reflecting on his mind released from aversion, reflecting on his mind released from delusion, that is called equanimity more not-of-the-flesh than that not of the flesh.
Thanks!
Rob
P. S. To your knowledge, are there other translation of the specific passage I quote above and here below (The Therigatha 174 found in the Khuddaka Nikaya)? Thanissaro translates most of it but not this passage.
Then, letting joy and blissful ease of mind
Suffuse my body, seven days I sat,
Ere stretching out cramped limbs I rose again.
Was it not rent indeed, that muffling mist?