[477] What is the liberation (vimokkha) of the attainment (samāpatti) of the sphere of the infinity of space (ākāsānañcāyatana)? Here a bhikkhu, with the complete surmounting of perceptions of form (rūpasaññā), with the passing away of perceptions of sensory impact (paṭighasaññā), with non-attention to perceptions of diversity (nānattasaññā), [aware that] "space is infinite," enters upon and dwells in the sphere of the infinity of space. This is the liberation of the attainment of the sphere of the infinity of space.
What is the liberation of the attainment of the sphere of the infinity of consciousness (viññāṇañcāyatana)? Here a bhikkhu, having completely surmounted the sphere of the infinity of space, [aware that] "consciousness is infinite," enters upon and dwells in the sphere of the infinity of consciousness. This is the liberation of the attainment of the sphere of the infinity of consciousness.
What is the liberation of the attainment of the sphere of nothingness (ākiñcaññāyatana)? Here a bhikkhu, having completely surmounted the sphere of the infinity of consciousness, [aware that] "there is nothing at all," enters upon and dwells in the sphere of nothingness. This is the liberation of the attainment of the sphere of nothingness.
What is the liberation of the attainment of the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception (nevasaññānāsaññāyatana)? Here a bhikkhu, having completely surmounted the sphere of nothingness, enters upon and dwells in the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception. This is the liberation of the attainment of the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception.
What is the liberation of the attainment of the cessation of perception and feeling (saññāvedayitanirodha)? Here a bhikkhu, having completely surmounted the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception, enters upon and dwells in the cessation of perception and feeling. This is the liberation of the attainment of the cessation of perception and feeling.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.