[65] "There are, Ānanda, these seven stations of consciousness (viññāṇaṭṭhiti) and two bases (āyatana). Which seven?
"There are, Ānanda, beings diverse in body and diverse in perception, such as human beings, some gods, and some beings in states of deprivation (vinipātika). This is the first station of consciousness.
"There are, Ānanda, beings diverse in body and unified in perception, such as the gods of Brahmā's retinue, reborn through the first [jhāna], and the beings of the four states of deprivation. This is the second station of consciousness.
"There are, Ānanda, beings unified in body and diverse in perception, such as the gods of Streaming Radiance (Ābhassara). This is the third station of consciousness.
"There are, Ānanda, beings unified in body and unified in perception, such as the gods of Refulgent Glory (Subhakiṇha). This is the fourth station of consciousness.
"There are, Ānanda, beings who, through the complete transcending of perceptions of form, through the passing away of perceptions of impingement, through non-attention to perceptions of diversity, [aware that] 'space is infinite,' have attained the base of the infinity of space. This is the fifth station of consciousness.
"There are, Ānanda, beings who, having completely transcended the base of the infinity of space, [aware that] 'consciousness is infinite,' have attained the base of the infinity of consciousness. This is the sixth station of consciousness.
"There are, Ānanda, beings who, having completely transcended the base of the infinity of consciousness, [aware that] 'there is nothing,' have attained the base of nothingness. This is the seventh station of consciousness.
"[Then there is] the base of non-percipient beings; and the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception as the second.
"Therein, Ānanda, as to this first station of consciousness—beings diverse in body and diverse in perception, such as human beings, some gods, and some beings in states of deprivation—whoever, Ānanda, understands it, understands its origin, understands its passing away, understands its gratification, understands its danger, and understands the escape from it—would it be fitting for him to take delight in it?"
"Certainly not, venerable sir." …
"Therein, Ānanda, as to this seventh station of consciousness—beings who, having completely transcended the base of the infinity of consciousness, [aware that] 'there is nothing,' have attained the base of nothingness—whoever, Ānanda, understands it, understands its origin, understands its passing away, understands its gratification, understands its danger, and understands the escape from it—would it be fitting for him to take delight in it?"
"Certainly not, venerable sir."
"Therein, Ānanda, as to this base of non-percipient beings—whoever, Ānanda, understands it, understands its origin, understands its passing away, understands its gratification, understands its danger, and understands the escape from it—would it be fitting for him to take delight in it?"
"Certainly not, venerable sir."
"Therein, Ānanda, as to this base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception—whoever, Ānanda, understands it, understands its origin, understands its passing away, understands its gratification, understands its danger, and understands the escape from it—would it be fitting for him to take delight in it?"
"Certainly not, venerable sir."
"When, Ānanda, a bhikkhu, having known as it really is the origin, the passing away, the gratification, the danger, and the escape regarding these seven stations of consciousness and these two bases, is liberated through non-clinging, this bhikkhu, Ānanda, is called one liberated by wisdom (paññāvimutta)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.