[158] 1. Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jetavana, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park. Now on that occasion the Blessed One was instructing, urging, rousing, and gladdening the bhikkhus with a Dhamma talk connected with Nibbāna; and those bhikkhus — regarding it as essential, attending to it, focusing upon it with their whole mind — were listening to the Dhamma with eager ears. Then the Blessed One, having understood the meaning of this, at that time uttered this inspired utterance (udāna):
"Bhikkhus, there is that sphere (āyatana) where there is neither earth, nor water, nor fire, nor air; neither the sphere of the infinity of space (ākāsānañcāyatana), nor the sphere of the infinity of consciousness (viññāṇañcāyatana), nor the sphere of nothingness (ākiñcaññāyatana), nor the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception (nevasaññānāsaññāyatana); neither this world nor the world beyond; nor both moon and sun. Of that, bhikkhus, I speak neither of a coming, nor a going, nor a remaining, nor a passing away, nor an arising. It is unestablished, does not proceed, and is without any object: just this is the end of suffering (dukkha)."
The First Sutta.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.