[556] Bhikkhus, these three persons (puggala) are found existing in the world. Which three? Here, bhikkhus, a certain person, with the complete transcending of perceptions of form (rūpasaññā), with the disappearance of perceptions of sensory impingement (paṭighasaññā), with non-attention to perceptions of diversity (nānattasaññā), [aware that] 'space is infinite,' enters and dwells in the sphere of the infinity of space (ākāsānañcāyatana). He relishes it, longs for it, and finds satisfaction in it. Established in it, resolved upon it, dwelling much in it, and not having fallen away from it, when he dies he is reborn in companionship with the devas of the sphere of the infinity of space. Bhikkhus, the life span of the devas of the sphere of the infinity of space is twenty thousand aeons (kappa). There the worldling (puthujjana) remains for the full extent of his life, and when he has exhausted the whole life span of those devas, he goes even to hell (niraya), goes even to the animal womb (tiracchānayoni), goes even to the realm of hungry ghosts (pittivisaya). But the disciple of the Blessed One, having remained there for the full extent of his life, when he has exhausted the whole life span of those devas, attains final Nibbāna (parinibbāyati) in that very state of existence. This, bhikkhus, is the distinction, this is the disparity, this is the difference between the instructed noble disciple and the uninstructed worldling, that is, so long as there is destination and rebirth.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, here a certain person, completely transcending the sphere of the infinity of space, [aware that] 'consciousness is infinite,' enters and dwells in the sphere of the infinity of consciousness (viññāṇañcāyatana). He relishes it, longs for it, and finds satisfaction in it. Established in it, resolved upon it, dwelling much in it, and not having fallen away from it, when he dies he is reborn in companionship with the devas of the sphere of the infinity of consciousness. Bhikkhus, the life span of the devas of the sphere of the infinity of consciousness is forty thousand aeons. There the worldling remains for the full extent of his life, and when he has exhausted the whole life span of those devas, he goes even to hell, goes even to the animal womb, goes even to the realm of hungry ghosts. But the disciple of the Blessed One, having remained there for the full extent of his life, when he has exhausted the whole life span of those devas, attains final Nibbāna in that very state of existence. This, bhikkhus, is the distinction, this is the disparity, this is the difference between the instructed noble disciple and the uninstructed worldling, that is, so long as there is destination and rebirth.
Furthermore, bhikkhus, here a certain person, completely transcending the sphere of the infinity of consciousness, [aware that] 'there is nothing,' enters and dwells in the sphere of nothingness (ākiñcaññāyatana). He relishes it, longs for it, and finds satisfaction in it. Established in it, resolved upon it, dwelling much in it, and not having fallen away from it, when he dies he is reborn in companionship with the devas of the sphere of nothingness. Bhikkhus, the life span of the devas of the sphere of nothingness is sixty thousand aeons. There the worldling remains for the full extent of his life, and when he has exhausted the whole life span of those devas, he goes even to hell, goes even to the animal womb, goes even to the realm of hungry ghosts. But the disciple of the Blessed One, having remained there for the full extent of his life, when he has exhausted the whole life span of those devas, attains final Nibbāna in that very state of existence. This, bhikkhus, is the distinction, this is the disparity, this is the difference between the instructed noble disciple and the uninstructed worldling, that is, so long as there is destination and rebirth.
These, bhikkhus, are the three persons found existing in the world.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.