Hi Gabriel and others,
I haven’t read the entire discussion, so keep that in mind. May do so later offline.
Anyway, what I was referring toin SN 48.50 is (Bhikkhu Bodhi’s translation): “As to these things that previously I had only heard about, now I dwell having contacted them with the body and, having pierced them through with wisdom, I see.”
Here is my own work-in-progress translation of the jhana:
When joy disappears as well, you come to dwell in the third jhana, where, even-minded, alert, and aware, you personally experience pleasure, which noble ones describe as ‘dwelling pleasurably, even-minded, alert’.
And the rest for good measure:
And what is right unification of mind? Then, when you get fully secluded from sensory experiences and secluded from unwholesome states, you come to dwell in the first jhana, where there is joy and pleasure coming from seclusion, to which the mind moves and holds on. When the moving and holding subside, you come to dwell in the second jhana, where the mind is inwardly confident and united, so there is no moving or holding on, but just joy and pleasure coming from unification of mind. When joy disappears as well, you come to dwell in the third jhana, where, even-minded, alert, and aware, you personally experience pleasure, which noble ones describe as ‘dwelling pleasurably, even-minded, alert’. when pleasure and displeasure are left behind, and happiness and unhappiness have come to an end earlier, you come to dwell in the fourth jhana, where there is a neutral sensation with pure even-mindedness and alertness. That is what’s called right unification of mind.”
Metta!
Sunyo