[226] [19] There the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: "Bhikkhus." "Venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:
"Could there be, bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu the obtaining of a concentration (samādhi) of such a kind that he would not be percipient of earth in earth, would not be percipient of water in water, would not be percipient of fire in fire, would not be percipient of air in air; would not be percipient of the Sphere of Infinity of Space (ākāsānañcāyatana) in the Sphere of Infinity of Space, would not be percipient of the Sphere of Infinity of Consciousness (viññāṇañcāyatana) in the Sphere of Infinity of Consciousness, would not be percipient of the Sphere of Nothingness (ākiñcaññāyatana) in the Sphere of Nothingness, would not be percipient of the Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception (nevasaññānāsaññāyatana) in the Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception; would not be percipient of this world in this world, would not be percipient of the world beyond in the world beyond; and whatever is seen, heard, sensed, cognized, attained, sought after, and ranged over by the mind (mano) — of that too he would not be percipient; and yet he would be percipient?"
"Venerable sir, our teachings are rooted in the Blessed One, have the Blessed One as guide, have the Blessed One as recourse. It would be good indeed, venerable sir, if the meaning of this statement might occur to the Blessed One himself; having heard it from the Blessed One, the bhikkhus will bear it in mind."
"Well then, bhikkhus, listen and attend closely; I will speak." "Yes, venerable sir," those bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this: "There could be, bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu the obtaining of a concentration of such a kind that he would not be percipient of earth in earth … and whatever is seen, heard, sensed, cognized, attained, sought after, and ranged over by the mind — of that too he would not be percipient; and yet he would be percipient."
"But how, venerable sir, could there be for a bhikkhu the obtaining of a concentration of such a kind that he would not be percipient of earth in earth … and whatever is seen, heard, sensed, cognized, attained, sought after, and ranged over by the mind — of that too he would not be percipient; and yet he would be percipient?"
"Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is percipient thus: 'This is peaceful, this is sublime, namely, the stilling of all volitional formations, the relinquishment of all acquisitions (upadhi), the destruction of craving (taṇhā), dispassion (virāga), cessation, Nibbāna.' It is in this way, bhikkhus, that there could be for a bhikkhu the obtaining of a concentration of such a kind that he would not be percipient of earth in earth, would not be percipient of water in water, would not be percipient of fire in fire, would not be percipient of air in air; would not be percipient of the Sphere of Infinity of Space in the Sphere of Infinity of Space, would not be percipient of the Sphere of Infinity of Consciousness in the Sphere of Infinity of Consciousness, would not be percipient of the Sphere of Nothingness in the Sphere of Nothingness, would not be percipient of the Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception in the Sphere of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception; would not be percipient of this world in this world, would not be percipient of the world beyond in the world beyond; and whatever is seen, heard, sensed, cognized, attained, sought after, and ranged over by the mind — of that too he would not be percipient; and yet he would be percipient."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.