The Buddha distinguishes between pairs of happiness.

AN 2.64-76  Sukha vagga - Happiness

2.64

“Dvemāni, bhikkhave, sukhāni. Katamāni dve? Gihisukhañca pabbajitasukhañca. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, dve sukhāni. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ sukhānaṁ yadidaṁ pabbajitasukhan”ti.

“There are these two kinds of happiness, bhikkhus. Which two? The happiness of householders and the happiness of renunciants. These are the two kinds of happiness. Of these two, the happiness of renunciants is the best kind of happiness.”

2.65

“Dvemāni, bhikkhave, sukhāni. Katamāni dve? Kāmasukhañca nekkhammasukhañca. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, dve sukhāni. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ sukhānaṁ yadidaṁ nekkhammasukhan”ti.

“There are these two kinds of happiness, bhikkhus. Which two? |Sensual happiness::comfort of sense pleasures, enjoyment of sense desire [kāmasukha]| and the |happiness of renunciation::pleasure of giving up sensual pleasure [nekkhammasukha]|. These are the two kinds of happiness. Of these two, the happiness of renunciation is the best kind of happiness.”

2.66

“Dvemāni, bhikkhave, sukhāni. Katamāni dve? Upadhisukhañca nirupadhisukhañca. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, dve sukhāni. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ sukhānaṁ yadidaṁ nirupadhisukhan”ti.

“There are these two kinds of happiness, bhikkhus. Which two? The happiness of |acquisitions::attachment, taking as mine, appropriation, sense of ownership, identification [upadhi]| and the happiness of |no possession::freedom from acquisitions; lit. not placing near [nirupadhi]|. These are the two kinds of happiness. Of these two, the happiness of no possession is the best kind of happiness.”

2.67

“Dvemāni, bhikkhave, sukhāni. Katamāni dve? Sāsavasukhañca anāsavasukhañca. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, dve sukhāni. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ sukhānaṁ yadidaṁ anāsavasukhan”ti.

“There are these two kinds of happiness, bhikkhus. Which two? The tainted happiness and the untainted happiness. These are the two kinds of happiness. Of these two, the untainted happiness is the best kind of happiness.”

2.68

“Dvemāni, bhikkhave, sukhāni. Katamāni dve? Sāmisañca sukhaṁ nirāmisañca sukhaṁ. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, dve sukhāni. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ sukhānaṁ yadidaṁ nirāmisaṁ sukhan”ti.

“There are these two kinds of happiness, bhikkhus. Which two? |Worldly::of the flesh [sāmisa]| happiness and |spiritual::free from sensual engagement, free from worldly ties [nirāmisa]| happiness. These are the two kinds of happiness. Of these two, the spiritual happiness is the best kind of happiness.”

2.69

“Dvemāni, bhikkhave, sukhāni. Katamāni dve? Ariyasukhañca anariyasukhañca. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, dve sukhāni. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ sukhānaṁ yadidaṁ ariyasukhan”ti.

“There are these two kinds of happiness, bhikkhus. Which two? The noble happiness and the ignoble happiness. These are the two kinds of happiness. Of these two, the noble happiness is the best kind of happiness.”

2.70

“Dvemāni, bhikkhave, sukhāni. Katamāni dve? Kāyikañca sukhaṁ cetasikañca sukhaṁ. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, dve sukhāni. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ sukhānaṁ yadidaṁ cetasikaṁ sukhan”ti.

“There are these two kinds of happiness, bhikkhus. Which two? Bodily happiness and mental happiness. These are the two kinds of happiness. Of these two, the mental happiness is the best kind of happiness.”

2.71

“Dvemāni, bhikkhave, sukhāni. Katamāni dve? Sappītikañca sukhaṁ nippītikañca sukhaṁ. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, dve sukhāni. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ sukhānaṁ yadidaṁ nippītikaṁ sukhan”ti.

“There are these two kinds of happiness, bhikkhus. Which two? The happiness with |uplifting joy::mental exhilaration; it ranges from a gentle delight to overwhelming rapture [pīti]| and the happiness not connected with joy. These are the two kinds of happiness. Of these two, the happiness not connected with joy is the best kind of happiness.”

2.72

“Dvemāni, bhikkhave, sukhāni. Katamāni dve? Sātasukhañca upekkhāsukhañca. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, dve sukhāni. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ sukhānaṁ yadidaṁ upekkhāsukhan”ti.

“There are these two kinds of happiness, bhikkhus. Which two? The |happiness born of pleasure::happiness of the first three jhānas [sātasukha]| and the |happiness of equanimity::happiness of the fourth jhāna [upekkhāsukha]|. These are the two kinds of happiness. Of these two, the happiness of equanimity is the best kind of happiness.”

2.73

“Dvemāni, bhikkhave, sukhāni. Katamāni dve? Samādhisukhañca asamādhisukhañca. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, dve sukhāni. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ sukhānaṁ yadidaṁ samādhisukhan”ti.

“There are these two kinds of happiness, bhikkhus. Which two? The happiness born of |collectedness::stability of mind, stillness of mind, mental composure [samādhi]| and the happiness unrelated to collectedness. Of these two, the happiness born of collectedness is the best kind of happiness.”

2.74

“Dvemāni, bhikkhave, sukhāni. Katamāni dve? Sappītikārammaṇañca sukhaṁ nippītikārammaṇañca sukhaṁ. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, dve sukhāni. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ sukhānaṁ yadidaṁ nippītikārammaṇaṁ sukhan”ti.

“There are these two kinds of happiness, bhikkhus. Which two? The happiness based on uplifting joy and the happiness not connected with joy. These are the two kinds of happiness. Of these two, the happiness not connected with joy is the best kind of happiness.”

2.75

“Dvemāni, bhikkhave, sukhāni. Katamāni dve? Sātārammaṇañca sukhaṁ upekkhārammaṇañca sukhaṁ. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, dve sukhāni. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ sukhānaṁ yadidaṁ upekkhārammaṇaṁ sukhan”ti.

“There are these two kinds of happiness, bhikkhus. Which two? The happiness of a pleasant nature and the happiness of an equanimous nature. There are these two kinds of happiness. Of these two, the happiness of an equanimous nature is the best kind of happiness.”

2.76

“Dvemāni, bhikkhave, sukhāni. Katamāni dve? Rūpārammaṇañca sukhaṁ arūpārammaṇañca sukhaṁ. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, dve sukhāni. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ sukhānaṁ yadidaṁ arūpārammaṇaṁ sukhan”ti.

“There are these two kinds of happiness, bhikkhus. Which two? The happiness |founded on the material::based on form [rūpārammaṇa]| and the happiness |founded on the immaterial::based on the formless [arūpārammaṇa]|. There are these two kinds of happiness. Of these two, the happiness founded on the immaterial is the best kind of happiness.”

Topics & Qualities:

Jhana

Jhana

A mental quality of composure where awareness is gathered, steady, rather than scattered or tense. In such collectedness, supported by mindfulness and right view, experience is clearly known and can be wisely contemplated.

Also known as: absorption, concentration, collectedness, mental composure, stability of mind, undistracted awareness
Pāli: jhāna, samādhi, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
View all discourses →
Equanimity

Equanimity

A state of mental poise and balance, characterized by non-reactivity and composure in the face of agreeable or disagreeable experiences.

Also known as: mental poise, mental balance, equipose, non-reactivity, composure
Pāli: upekkha
View all discourses →
Free from attachment

Free from attachment

Release from grasping, not taking anything as “me” or “mine,” ceasing to appropriate or identify with people, things, views, or experiences.

Also known as: free from grasping, not appropriating, not taking as mine, without acquisitions, not clinging, not grasping, not holding onto
Pāli: nirūpadhi, nānupādāya, asita, anuggaha
View all discourses →
Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
View all discourses →
Happiness

Happiness

Bodily ease and comfort; a pleasant feeling experienced with the body. In the third jhāna, one dwells experiencing this pleasure with the body. It is abandoned, along with bodily pain, for the fourth jhāna to arise.

Also known as: pleasant abiding, positive state of mind, sense of ease
Pāli: sukha
View all discourses →
Uplifting joy

Uplifting joy

An energetic mental quality that creates a sense of lift or thrill; it ranges from a gentle delight to overwhelming rapture.

Also known as: heartfelt joy, mental exhilaration, rapture, lit. refreshment
Pāli: pīti
View all discourses →
Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
View all discourses →
Sensual desire

Sensual desire

A mental quality of desiring sensory gratification. It pulls the mind’s attention toward sights, sounds, smells, tastes, or touches in a search for satisfaction.

Also known as: craving for sensuality, passion for sensual pleasures, lust, pull toward enticing sense objects
Pāli: kāmacchanda
View all discourses →

Last updated on January 16, 2026