Then Ven. Ananda went to Ven. Sariputta and, on arrival, exchanged courteous greetings with him. After an exchange of friendly greetings & courtesies, he sat to one side. As he was sitting there, he said to Ven. Sariputta, |
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Friend Sariputta, could a monk have an attainment of concentration such that he would neither be percipient of earth with regard to earth, nor of water with regard to water. nor of fire with regard to fire. nor of wind with regard to wind. nor of the dimension of the infinitude of space with regard to the dimension of the infinitude of space. nor of the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness with regard to the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness. nor of the dimension of nothingness with regard to the dimension of nothingness . nor of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception with regard to the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. nor of this world with regard to this world. nor of the next world with regard to the next world. and yet he would still be percipient?" |
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-"Yes, friend Ananda, he could..." |
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But how, friend Sariputta, could a monk have an attainment of concentration such that he would neither be percipient of earth with regard to earth nor of water with regard to water. nor of fire with regard to fire. nor of wind with regard to wind. nor of the dimension of the infinitude of space with regard to the dimension of the infinitude of space. nor of the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness with regard to the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness. nor of the dimension of nothingness with regard to the dimension of nothingness. nor of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception with regard to the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. nor of this world with regard to this world. nor of the next world with regard to the next world. and yet he would still be percipient?" |
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Once, friend Ananda, when I was staying right here in Savatthi in the Blind Man's Grove, I reached concentration in such a way that I was neither be percipient of earth with regard to earth, nor of water with regard to water. nor of fire with regard to fire. nor of wind with regard to wind. nor of the dimension of the infinitude of space with regard to the dimension of the infinitude of space. nor of the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness with regard to the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness. nor of the dimension of nothingness with regard to the dimension of nothingness. nor of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception with regard to the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. nor of this world with regard to this world. nor of the next world with regard to the next world. And yet I was still percipient |
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-"But what, friend Sariputta, were you percipient of at that time?" |
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'The cessation of becoming — nibbana — the cessation of becoming — nibbana': One perception arose in me, friend Ananda, as another perception ceased. Just as in a blazing woodchip fire, one flame arises as another flame ceases, even so, 'The cessation of becoming — Unbinding — the cessation of becoming — Unbinding': One perception arose in me as another one ceased. I was percipient at that time of 'The cessation of becoming — Unbinding.'" |
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See also: AN 9.36; AN 10.6. |
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