7.
The Discourse on Perception
7.
Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One;
having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side.
Seated to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One -
"Could there be, venerable sir, such an attainment of concentration for a monk that he would not be percipient of earth in earth, not be percipient of water in water, not be percipient of fire in fire, not be percipient of air in air, not be percipient of the plane of infinite space in the plane of infinite space, not be percipient of the plane of infinite consciousness in the plane of infinite consciousness, not be percipient of the plane of nothingness in the plane of nothingness, not be percipient of the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception in the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, not be percipient of this world in this world, not be percipient of the world beyond in the world beyond, whatever is seen, heard, sensed, cognised, attained, sought after, pondered over by the mind, there too he would not be percipient; and yet he would be percipient?"
"There could be, Ānanda, such an attainment of concentration for a monk that he would not be percipient of earth in earth, not be percipient of water in water, not be percipient of fire in fire, not be percipient of air in air, not be percipient of the plane of infinite space in the plane of infinite space, not be percipient of the plane of infinite consciousness in the plane of infinite consciousness, not be percipient of the plane of nothingness in the plane of nothingness, not be percipient of the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception in the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, not be percipient of this world in this world, not be percipient of the world beyond in the world beyond, whatever is seen, heard, sensed, cognised, attained, sought after, pondered over by the mind, there too he would not be percipient; and yet he would be percipient."
"In what way, venerable sir, could there be such an attainment of concentration for a monk that he would not be percipient of earth in earth, not be percipient of water in water, not be percipient of fire in fire, not be percipient of air in air, not be percipient of the plane of infinite space in the plane of infinite space, not be percipient of the plane of infinite consciousness in the plane of infinite consciousness, not be percipient of the plane of nothingness in the plane of nothingness, not be percipient of the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception in the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, not be percipient of this world in this world, not be percipient of the world beyond in the world beyond, whatever is seen, heard, sensed, cognised, attained, sought after, pondered over by the mind, there too he would not be percipient, and yet he would be percipient?"
"Here, Ānanda, a monk has this perception - 'This is peaceful, this is sublime, that is to say, the stilling of all activities, the relinquishment of all clinging, the elimination of craving, dispassion, cessation, Nibbāna.' Thus, Ānanda, there could be such an attainment of concentration for a monk that he would not be percipient of earth in earth, not be percipient of water in water, not be percipient of fire in fire, not be percipient of air in air, not be percipient of the plane of infinite space in the plane of infinite space, not be percipient of the plane of infinite consciousness in the plane of infinite consciousness, not be percipient of the plane of nothingness in the plane of nothingness, not be percipient of the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception in the plane of neither-perception-nor-non-perception, not be percipient of this world in this world, not be percipient of the world beyond in the world beyond, whatever is seen, heard, sensed, cognised, attained, sought after, pondered over by the mind, there too he would not be percipient, and yet he would be percipient."
Then the Venerable Ānanda, having delighted in and given thanks for what the Blessed One had said, rose from his seat, paid respect to the Blessed One, circumambulated him keeping him on his right, and approached the Venerable Sāriputta; having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Venerable Sāriputta. Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Venerable Sāriputta -
"Could there be, friend Sāriputta, such an attainment of concentration for a monk that he would not be percipient of earth in earth, etc. whatever is seen, heard, sensed, cognised, attained, sought after, pondered over by the mind, there too he would not be percipient, and yet he would be percipient?" "There could be, friend Ānanda, such an attainment of concentration for a monk that he would not be percipient of earth in earth, etc. whatever is seen, heard, sensed, cognised, attained, sought after, pondered over by the mind, there too he would not be percipient, and yet he would be percipient."
"In what way, friend Sāriputta, could there be such an attainment of concentration for a monk that he would not be percipient of earth in earth, etc. whatever is seen, heard, sensed, cognised, attained, sought after, pondered over by the mind, there too he would not be percipient, and yet he would be percipient?"
"Here, friend Ānanda, a monk has this perception - 'This is peaceful, this is sublime, that is to say, the stilling of all activities, the relinquishment of all clinging, the elimination of craving, dispassion, cessation, Nibbāna.' Thus, friend Ānanda, there could be such an attainment of concentration for a monk that he would not be percipient of earth in earth, etc. whatever is seen, heard, sensed, cognised, attained, sought after, pondered over by the mind, there too he would not be percipient, and yet he would be percipient."
"It is wonderful, friend, it is marvellous, friend! That indeed the meaning with meaning, the phrasing with phrasing of both the Teacher and the disciple will fit together, will agree, will not conflict, that is to say, regarding the highest teaching! Just now, friend, I approached the Blessed One and asked about this matter. The Blessed One too explained this matter to me with these very syllables, with these very terms, with these very phrases, just as the Venerable Sāriputta. It is wonderful, friend, it is marvellous, friend, that indeed the meaning with meaning, the phrasing with phrasing of both the Teacher and the disciple will fit together, will agree, will not conflict, that is to say, regarding the highest teaching!" The seventh.