1.
The Discourse on the Seven Elements
95.
He was dwelling at Sāvatthī, etc.
"There are, monks, these seven elements.
Which are the seven?
The element of radiance, the element of beauty, the element of the plane of infinite space, the element of the plane of infinite consciousness, the element of the plane of nothingness, the element of the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, the element of the cessation of perception and feeling -
these, monks, are the seven elements."
When this was said, a certain monk said this to the Blessed One - "This element of radiance, venerable sir, and the element of beauty, and the element of the plane of infinite space, and the element of the plane of infinite consciousness, and the element of the plane of nothingness, and the element of the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, and the element of the cessation of perception and feeling - dependent on what, venerable sir, are these elements discerned?"
"This element of radiance, monk - this element is discerned dependent on darkness. This element of beauty, monk - this element is discerned dependent on foulness. This element of the plane of infinite space, monk - this element is discerned dependent on materiality. This element of the plane of infinite consciousness, monk - this element is discerned dependent on the plane of infinite space. This element of the plane of nothingness, monk - this element is discerned dependent on the plane of infinite consciousness. This element of the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, monk - this element is discerned dependent on the plane of nothingness. This element of the cessation of perception and feeling, monk - this element is discerned dependent on cessation."
"This element of radiance, venerable sir, and the element of beauty, and the element of the plane of infinite space, and the element of the plane of infinite consciousness, and the element of the plane of nothingness, and the element of the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, and the element of the cessation of perception and feeling - how, venerable sir, are these elements to be attained as attainments?"
"This element of radiance, monk, and the element of beauty, and the element of the plane of infinite space, and the element of the plane of infinite consciousness, and the element of the plane of nothingness - these elements are to be attained as attainments with perception. This element of the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, monk - this element is to be attained as an attainment with a residue of activities. This element of the cessation of perception and feeling, monk - this element is to be attained as the attainment of cessation." The first.