[6] Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, could a bhikkhu obtain such an attainment of concentration (samādhi) that he would not be percipient of earth in relation to earth, not percipient of water in relation to water, not percipient of fire in relation to fire, not percipient of air in relation to air; not percipient of the sphere of the infinity of space in relation to the sphere of the infinity of space, not percipient of the sphere of the infinity of consciousness in relation to the sphere of the infinity of consciousness, not percipient of the sphere of nothingness in relation to the sphere of nothingness, not percipient of the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception in relation to the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception; not percipient of this world in relation to this world, not percipient of the world beyond in relation to the world beyond — and yet he would still be percipient?"
"He could, Ānanda. A bhikkhu could obtain such an attainment of concentration that he would not be percipient of earth in relation to earth, not percipient of water in relation to water, not percipient of fire in relation to fire, not percipient of air in relation to air; not percipient of the sphere of the infinity of space in relation to the sphere of the infinity of space, not percipient of the sphere of the infinity of consciousness in relation to the sphere of the infinity of consciousness, not percipient of the sphere of nothingness in relation to the sphere of nothingness, not percipient of the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception in relation to the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception; not percipient of this world in relation to this world, not percipient of the world beyond in relation to the world beyond — and yet he would still be percipient."
"But how, venerable sir, could a bhikkhu obtain such an attainment of concentration that he would not be percipient of earth in relation to earth, not percipient of water in relation to water, not percipient of fire in relation to fire, not percipient of air in relation to air; not percipient of the sphere of the infinity of space in relation to the sphere of the infinity of space, not percipient of the sphere of the infinity of consciousness in relation to the sphere of the infinity of consciousness, not percipient of the sphere of nothingness in relation to the sphere of nothingness, not percipient of the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception in relation to the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception; not percipient of this world in relation to this world, not percipient of the world beyond in relation to the world beyond — and yet he would still be percipient?"
"Here, Ānanda, 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, Ānanda, that a bhikkhu could obtain such an attainment of concentration that he would not be percipient of earth in relation to earth, not percipient of water in relation to water, not percipient of fire in relation to fire, not percipient of air in relation to air; not percipient of the sphere of the infinity of space in relation to the sphere of the infinity of space, not percipient of the sphere of the infinity of consciousness in relation to the sphere of the infinity of consciousness, not percipient of the sphere of nothingness in relation to the sphere of nothingness, not percipient of the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception in relation to the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception; not percipient of this world in relation to this world, not percipient of the world beyond in relation to the world beyond — and yet he would still be percipient."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.