[228] There the Venerable Sāriputta addressed the bhikkhus: "Could there be, friends, for a bhikkhu such an attainment of concentration (samādhi) that he would not be percipient of earth in relation to earth, nor percipient of water in relation to water, nor percipient of fire in relation to fire, nor percipient of air in relation to air; nor percipient of the sphere of the infinity of space in relation to the sphere of the infinity of space, nor percipient of the sphere of the infinity of consciousness in relation to the sphere of the infinity of consciousness, nor percipient of the sphere of nothingness in relation to the sphere of nothingness, nor percipient of the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception in relation to the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception; nor percipient of this world in relation to this world, nor percipient of the world beyond in relation to the world beyond; and whatever is seen, heard, sensed, cognized, reached, sought after, and ranged over by the mind — even of that he would not be percipient, and yet he would be percipient?"
"Even from afar, friend, we would come into the presence of the Venerable Sāriputta to learn the meaning of this statement. It would be good indeed if the meaning of this statement would become clear to the Venerable Sāriputta himself; having heard it from the Venerable Sāriputta, the bhikkhus will bear it in mind."
"Well then, friends, listen to it and attend closely; I will speak." "Yes, friend," those bhikkhus replied to the Venerable Sāriputta. The Venerable Sāriputta said this: "There could be, friends, for a bhikkhu such an attainment of concentration that he would not be percipient of earth in relation to earth … and whatever is seen, heard, sensed, cognized, reached, sought after, and ranged over by the mind — even of that he would not be percipient, and yet he would be percipient."
"But in what way, friend Sāriputta, could there be for a bhikkhu such an attainment of concentration that he would not be percipient of earth in relation to earth … and whatever is seen, heard, sensed, cognized, reached, sought after, and ranged over by the mind — even of that he would not be percipient, and yet he would be percipient?"
"Here, friends, a bhikkhu is percipient thus: 'This is peaceful, this is sublime, namely, the stilling of all formations, the relinquishment of all acquisitions (upadhi), the destruction of craving (taṇhā), dispassion, cessation, Nibbāna.' It is in this way, friends, that there could be for a bhikkhu such an attainment of concentration that he would not be percipient of earth in relation to earth, nor percipient of water in relation to water, nor percipient of fire in relation to fire, nor percipient of air in relation to air; nor percipient of the sphere of the infinity of space in relation to the sphere of the infinity of space, nor percipient of the sphere of the infinity of consciousness in relation to the sphere of the infinity of consciousness, nor percipient of the sphere of nothingness in relation to the sphere of nothingness, nor percipient of the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception in relation to the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception; nor percipient of this world in relation to this world, nor percipient of the world beyond in relation to the world beyond; and whatever is seen, heard, sensed, cognized, reached, sought after, and ranged over by the mind — even of that he would not be percipient, and yet he would be percipient."
The Second Vagga, the second.
Its summary (uddāna):
The two Mahānāmas, and with Nandiya, with Subhūti, and Mettā;
Dasama, the Cowherd (Gopālaka), and the four on concentration.
Discourses not included in the Paṇṇāsaka (the Fifties).
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.