{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an9.39/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an9.39","id":"suttacentral_an9.39","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an9.39/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"\u201cOnce upon a time, mendicants, a battle was fought between the gods and the titans. In that battle the titans won and the gods lost. Defeated, the gods fled north with the titans in pursuit. Then the gods thought, \u2018The titans are still in pursuit. Why don\u2019t we engage them in battle a second time?\u2019 And so a second battle was fought between the gods and the titans. And for a second time the titans won and the gods lost. Defeated, the gods fled north with the titans in pursuit. Then the gods thought, \u2018The titans are still in pursuit. Why don\u2019t we engage them in battle a third time?\u2019 And so a third battle was fought between the gods and the titans. And for a third time the titans won and the gods lost. Defeated and terrified, the gods fled right into the castle of the gods. When they had entered their castle, they thought, \u2018Now we\u2019re in a secure location and the titans can\u2019t do anything to us.\u2019 The titans also thought, \u2018Now the gods are in a secure location and we can\u2019t do anything to them.\u2019 Once upon a time, a battle was fought between the gods and the titans. In that battle the gods won and the titans lost. Defeated, the titans fled south with the gods in pursuit. Then the titans thought, \u2018The gods are still in pursuit. Why don\u2019t we engage them in battle a second time?\u2019 And so a second battle was fought between the gods and the titans. And for a second time the gods won and the titans lost. Defeated, the titans fled south with the gods in pursuit. Then the titans thought, \u2018The gods are still in pursuit. Why don\u2019t we engage them in battle a third time?\u2019 And so a third battle was fought between the gods and the titans. And for a third time the gods won and the titans lost. Defeated and terrified, the titans fled right into the citadel of the titans. When they had entered their citadel, they thought, \u2018Now we\u2019re in a secure location and the gods can\u2019t do anything to us.\u2019 And the gods also thought, \u2018Now the titans are in a secure location and we can\u2019t do anything to them.\u2019 In the same way, there\u2019s a time when a mendicant, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected. At that time the mendicant thinks, \u2018Now I\u2019m in a secure location and M\u0101ra can\u2019t do anything to me.\u2019 And M\u0101ra the Wicked also thinks, \u2018Now the mendicant is in a secure location and we can\u2019t do anything to them.\u2019 There\u2019s a time when, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, a mendicant enters and remains in the second absorption \u2026 third absorption \u2026 fourth absorption. At that time the mendicant thinks, \u2018Now I\u2019m in a secure location and M\u0101ra can\u2019t do anything to me.\u2019 And M\u0101ra the Wicked also thinks, \u2018Now the mendicant is in a secure location and we can\u2019t do anything to them.\u2019 There\u2019s a time when a mendicant, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the disappearance of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that \u2018space is infinite\u2019, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space. This is called a mendicant who has blinded M\u0101ra, put out his eyes without a trace, and gone where the Wicked One cannot see. There\u2019s a time when a mendicant, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that \u2018consciousness is infinite\u2019, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite consciousness. \u2026 Going totally beyond the dimension of infinite consciousness, aware that \u2018there is nothing at all\u2019, they enter and remain in the dimension of nothingness. \u2026 Going totally beyond the dimension of nothingness, they enter and remain in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. \u2026 Going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, they enter and remain in the cessation of perception and feeling. And, having seen with wisdom, their defilements come to an end. This is called a mendicant who has blinded M\u0101ra, put out his eyes without a trace, and gone where the Wicked One cannot see. And they\u2019ve crossed over clinging to the world.\u201d","title":"The War Between the Gods and the Titans","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":733}