9.
The Second Discourse on Concentration
19.
There the Blessed One addressed the monks thus:
"Monks."
"Venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One.
The Blessed One said this:
"Could there be, monks, 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, etc. 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?" "The teachings have the Blessed One as their root, venerable sir, have the Blessed One as their guide, have the Blessed One as their refuge. It would be good indeed, venerable sir, if the meaning of this statement would occur to the Blessed One himself. Having heard from the Blessed One, the monks will remember it."
"Well then, monks, listen, pay close attention; I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," those monks assented to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:
"There could be, monks, 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, venerable sir, 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, monks, 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, monks, 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." The ninth.