[335] Furthermore, Ānanda, a bhikkhu — not attending to the perception (saññā) of human beings, not attending to the perception of forest — attends to the singleness (ekatta) dependent on the perception of earth. His mind (citta) enters into that perception of earth, becomes confident, steadies, and resolves upon it. Just as, Ānanda, a bull's hide, well stretched with a hundred pegs, is free of wrinkles, even so, Ānanda, a bhikkhu — not attending to any of this earth's rises and hollows, its river ravines, its tracts of stumps and thorns, its mountainous unevenness — attends to the singleness dependent on the perception of earth. His mind enters into that perception of earth, becomes confident, steadies, and resolves upon it. He understands thus: 'Whatever disturbances (daratha) there might be dependent on the perception of human beings, they are not present here; whatever disturbances there might be dependent on the perception of forest, they are not present here. There is present only this measure of disturbance, namely, the singleness dependent on the perception of earth.' He understands: 'This field of perception is empty of the perception of human beings'; he understands: 'This field of perception is empty of the perception of forest. And there is present only this non-emptiness, namely, the singleness dependent on the perception of earth.' Thus he regards it as empty of that which is not there, but of that which remains there he understands that which is present thus: 'This is present.' Thus, Ānanda, this too is for him a descent into emptiness (suññatā) that is in accordance with what really is (yathābhuccā), undistorted, and pure.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.