{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an11.7/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an11.7","id":"suttacentral_an11.7","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an11.7/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"Then Venerable \u0100nanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: \u201cCould it be, sir, that a mendicant might gain a state of immersion like this? They wouldn\u2019t perceive earth in earth, water in water, fire in fire, or air in air. And they wouldn\u2019t perceive the dimension of infinite space in the dimension of infinite space, the dimension of infinite consciousness in the dimension of infinite consciousness, the dimension of nothingness in the dimension of nothingness, or the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. They wouldn\u2019t perceive this world in this world, or the other world in the other world. And they wouldn\u2019t perceive what is seen, heard, thought, known, attained, sought, or explored by the mind. And yet they would still perceive.\u201d \u201cIt could be, \u0100nanda, that a mendicant might gain a state of immersion like this. They wouldn\u2019t perceive earth in earth, water in water, fire in fire, or air in air. And they wouldn\u2019t perceive the dimension of infinite space in the dimension of infinite space, the dimension of infinite consciousness in the dimension of infinite consciousness, the dimension of nothingness in the dimension of nothingness, or the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. They wouldn\u2019t perceive this world in this world, or the other world in the other world. And they wouldn\u2019t perceive what is seen, heard, thought, known, attained, sought, or explored by the mind. And yet they would still perceive.\u201d \u201cBut how could this be, sir?\u201d \u201c\u0100nanda, it\u2019s when a mendicant perceives: \u2018This is peaceful; this is sublime\u2014that is, the stilling of all activities, the letting go of all attachments, the ending of craving, fading away, cessation, extinguishment.\u2019 That\u2019s how a mendicant might gain a state of immersion like this. They wouldn\u2019t perceive earth in earth, water in water, fire in fire, or air in air. And they wouldn\u2019t perceive the dimension of infinite space in the dimension of infinite space, the dimension of infinite consciousness in the dimension of infinite consciousness, the dimension of nothingness in the dimension of nothingness, or the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. They wouldn\u2019t perceive this world in this world, or the other world in the other world. And they wouldn\u2019t perceive what is seen, heard, thought, known, attained, sought, or explored by the mind. And yet they would still perceive.\u201d And then \u0100nanda approved and agreed with what the Buddha said. He got up from his seat, bowed and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right. Then he went up to Venerable S\u0101riputta, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to S\u0101riputta: \u201cCould it be, reverend S\u0101riputta, that a mendicant might gain a state of immersion like this? They wouldn\u2019t perceive earth in earth \u2026 And they wouldn\u2019t perceive what is seen, heard, thought, known, attained, sought, or explored by the mind. And yet they would still perceive.\u201d \u201cIt could be, Reverend \u0100nanda.\u201d \u201cBut how could this be?\u201d \u201c\u0100nanda, it\u2019s when a mendicant perceives: \u2018This is peaceful; this is sublime\u2014that is, the stilling of all activities, the letting go of all attachments, the ending of craving, fading away, cessation, extinguishment.\u2019 That\u2019s how a mendicant might gain a state of immersion like this. They wouldn\u2019t perceive earth in earth \u2026 And they wouldn\u2019t perceive what is seen, heard, thought, known, attained, sought, or explored by the mind. And yet they would still perceive.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s incredible, it\u2019s amazing! How the meaning and the phrasing of the Teacher and the disciple fit together and agree without conflict when it comes to the chief matter! Just now I went to the Buddha and asked him about this matter. And the Buddha explained it to me in this manner, with these words and phrases, just like Venerable S\u0101riputta. It\u2019s incredible, it\u2019s amazing! How the meaning and the phrasing of the Teacher and the disciple fit together and agree without conflict when it comes to the chief matter!\u201d","title":"Percipient","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":694}