[798] A formless-sphere phenomenon (arūpāvacara dhamma) is a condition (paccaya) for a formless-sphere phenomenon by object condition (ārammaṇa-paccaya): the sphere of infinity of space (ākāsānañcāyatana) is a condition for the sphere of infinity of consciousness (viññāṇañcāyatana) by object condition; the sphere of nothingness (ākiñcaññāyatana) is a condition for the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception (nevasaññānāsaññāyatana) by object condition.
A formless-sphere phenomenon is a condition for a phenomenon that is not of the formless sphere (na-arūpāvacara) by object condition: one reviews (paccavekkhati) the sphere of infinity of space; the sphere of infinity of consciousness …; the sphere of nothingness …; one reviews the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception. (One contemplates) the formless-sphere aggregates (khandhā) as impermanent (aniccato) … grief (domanassa) arises. With the knowledge of penetration of others' minds (cetopariyañāṇa) one knows the mind (citta) of one endowed with a formless-sphere mind. The formless-sphere aggregates are a condition for the knowledge of penetration of others' minds, for the knowledge of the recollection of past lives (pubbenivāsānussati-ñāṇa), for the knowledge of beings faring according to their kamma (yathākammūpaga-ñāṇa), for the knowledge of the future (anāgataṃsa-ñāṇa), and for adverting (āvajjana), by object condition.
A phenomenon that is not of the formless sphere is a condition for a phenomenon that is not of the formless sphere by object condition: a gift (dāna) …; virtue (sīla) …; having performed the uposatha observance (uposathakamma), one reviews it, relishes it, and delights in it; on account of that, lust (rāga) … grief arises. (One reviews) what was formerly well practised …; from jhāna …. The noble ones (ariyā), having emerged from the path (magga), review the path; they review the fruit (phala); they review Nibbāna. Nibbāna is a condition for change-of-lineage (gotrabhū), for purification (vodāna), for the path, for the fruit, and for adverting, by object condition. The noble ones review the defilements (kilesa) that have been abandoned; the defilements that have been suppressed …; formerly … …; the eye (cakkhu) …; the base (vatthu) …; (one contemplates) the aggregates that are not of the formless sphere as impermanent … grief arises. With the divine eye (dibbacakkhu) one sees a form; with the divine ear element (dibbā sotadhātu) one hears a sound. With the knowledge of penetration of others' minds one knows the mind of one endowed with a mind that is not of the formless sphere. The form base (rūpāyatana) is a condition for eye-consciousness (cakkhuviññāṇa); the tangible base (phoṭṭhabbāyatana) …. The aggregates that are not of the formless sphere are a condition for the knowledge of supernormal powers (iddhividha-ñāṇa), for the knowledge of penetration of others' minds, for the knowledge of the recollection of past lives, for the knowledge of beings faring according to their kamma, for the knowledge of the future, and for adverting, by object condition.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.