Perceptions

Then venerable Ānanda approached The Blessed One, worshipped, sat on a side and said to The Blessed One:

“Venerable sir, is there a concentration to the bhikkhu, abiding in which, in earth he has no perceptions of earth, in water he has no perceptions of water, in fire he has no perceptions of fire, in air he has no perceptions of air, in the sphere of space, he has no perceptions of the sphere of space, in the sphere of consciousness, he has no perceptions of the sphere of consciousness, in the sphere of nothingness, he has no perceptions of the sphere of nothingness, in the sphere of neither perceptions nor non-perceptions, he has no perceptions of the sphere of neither perceptions nor non-perceptions. In this world, he has no perceptions of this world. In the other world, he has no perceptions of the other world. Is not perceptive of whatever seen, heard, experienced, cognized, attained, and sought with the mind Yet is perceptive.?"

“Ānanda, there is that concentration to the bhikkhu, abiding in which, in earth he has no perceptions of earth, in water he has no perceptions of water, in fire he has no perceptions of fire, in air he has no perceptions of air, in the sphere of space, he has no perceptions of the sphere of space, in the sphere of consciousness, he has no perceptions of the sphere of consciousness, in the sphere of nothingness, he has no perceptions of the sphere of nothingness, in the sphere of neither perceptions nor non-perceptions, he has no perceptions of the sphere of neither perceptions nor non-perceptions. In this world, he has no perceptions of this world. In the other world, he has no perceptions of the other world. Is not perceptive of whatever seen, heard, experienced, cognized, attained, and searched by the mind. Yet he is perceptive"

“Venerable sir, what is that concentration to the bhikkhu, abiding in which, in earth he has no perceptions of earth, in water he has no perceptions of water, in fire he has no perceptions of fire, in air he has no perceptions of air, in the sphere of space, he has no perceptions of the sphere of space, in the sphere of consciousness, he has no perceptions of the sphere of consciousness, in the sphere of nothingness, he has no perceptions of the sphere of nothingness, in the sphere of neither perceptions nor non-perceptions, he has no perceptions of the sphere of neither perceptions nor non-perceptions. In this world, he has no perceptions of this world. In the other world, he has no perceptions of the other world. Is not perceptive of whatever seen, heard, experienced, cognized, attained, and sought with the mind Yet he is perceptive?"

“Here, Ānanda, the bhikkhu is perceptive thus: This is peaceful, this is exalted, such as the appeasement of all determinations, giving up of all endearments, destruction of craving, disenchantment, cessation and extinction. Ānanda, in this manner, there is that concentration to the bhikkhu, abiding in which, in earth he has no perceptions of earth, in water he has no perceptions of water, in fire he has no perceptions of fire, in air he has no perceptions of air, in the sphere of space, he has no perceptions of the sphere of space, in the sphere of consciousness, he has no perceptions of the sphere of consciousness, in the sphere of nothingness, he has no perceptions of the sphere of nothingness, in the sphere of neither perceptions nor non-perceptions, he has no perceptions of the sphere of neither perceptions nor non-perceptions. In this world, he has no perceptions of this world. In the other world, he has no perceptions of the other world. Is not perceptive of whatever seen, heard, experienced, cognized, attained, and sought with the mind Yet he is perceptive.

Venerable Ānanda delighted and agreeing with the words of The Blessed One got up from his seat, worshipped and circumambulated The Blessed One and approached venerable Sāriputta, exchanged friendly greetings, sat on a side and said:

“Friend, Sāriputta, is there, that concentration to the bhikkhu, abiding in which, in earth he has no perceptions of earth, in water he has no perceptions of water, in fire he has no perceptions of fire, in air he has no perceptions of air, in the sphere of space, he has no perceptions of the sphere of space, in the sphere of consciousness, he has no perceptions of the sphere of consciousness, in the sphere of nothingness, he has no perceptions of the sphere of nothingness, in the sphere of neither perceptions nor non-perceptions, he has no perceptions of the sphere of neither perceptions nor non-perceptions. In this world, he has no perceptions of this world. In the other world, he has no perceptions of the other world. Is not perceptive of whatever seen, heard, experienced, cognized, attained, and searched by the mind Yet he is perceptive?"

“Friend, Sāriputta, how is that concentration to the bhikkhu, abiding in which, in earth he has no perceptions of earth, ... re ... Is not perceptive of whatever seen, heard, experienced, cognized, attained, and searched by the mind . Yet he is perceptive?"

“Here, Ānanda, the bhikkhu is perceptive thus: This is peaceful, this is exalted, such as the appeasement of all determinations, giving up of all endearments, destruction of craving, disenchantment, cessation and extinction. Ānanda, in this manner, there is that concentration to the bhikkhu, abiding in which, in earth he has no perceptions of earth, in water he has no perceptions of water, in fire he has no perceptions of fire, in air he has no perceptions of air, in the sphere of space, he has no perceptions of the sphere of space, in the sphere of consciousness, he has no perceptions of the sphere of consciousness, in the sphere of nothingness, he has no perceptions of the sphere of nothingness, in the sphere of neither perceptions nor non-perceptions, he has no perceptions of the sphere of neither perceptions nor non-perceptions. In this world, he has no perceptions of this world. In the other world, he has no perceptions of the other world. Is not perceptive of whatever seen, heard, experienced, cognized, attained, and searched by the mind Yet he is perceptive.

“Friend, it is surprising and wonderful, how the Teacher and disciple come together and agree without a trace of disagreement in the meaning even in the letters and words, about the highest attainment. Friend, Sāriputta, I asked this same question from The Blessed One just now and it was answered in this same manner with these words and phrases. Friend, it is surprising and wonderful, how the Teacher and disciple come together and agree without a trace of disagreement in the meaning even in the letters and words, about the highest attainment.