The Buddha teaches on the nine progressive meditative attainments, presenting a ninefold teaching for disciples on the path.

AN 9.33 The Nine Progressive Meditative Attainments

“Navayimā, bhikkhave, anupubbavihārasamāpattiyo desessāmi, taṁ suṇātha …pe… katamā ca, bhikkhave, nava anupubbavihārasamāpattiyo?

Yattha kāmā nirujjhanti, ye ca kāme nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti, ‘addhā te āyasmanto nicchātā nibbutā tiṇṇā pāraṅgatā tadaṅgenā’ti vadāmi. ‘Kattha kāmā nirujjhanti, ke ca kāme nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti ahametaṁ na jānāmi ahametaṁ na passāmī’ti, iti yo evaṁ vadeyya, so evamassa vacanīyo: ‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ettha kāmā nirujjhanti, te ca kāme nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharantī’ti. Addhā, bhikkhave, asaṭho amāyāvī ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinandeyya anumodeyya; ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā namassamāno pañjaliko payirupāseyya.

Yattha vitakkavicārā nirujjhanti, ye ca vitakkavicāre nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti, ‘addhā te āyasmanto nicchātā nibbutā tiṇṇā pāraṅgatā tadaṅgenā’ti vadāmi. ‘Kattha vitakkavicārā nirujjhanti, ke ca vitakkavicāre nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti ahametaṁ na jānāmi ahametaṁ na passāmī’ti, iti yo evaṁ vadeyya, so evamassa vacanīyo: ‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā …pe… dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati; ettha vitakkavicārā nirujjhanti, te ca vitakkavicāre nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharantī’ti. Addhā, bhikkhave, asaṭho amāyāvī ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinandeyya anumodeyya; ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā namassamāno pañjaliko payirupāseyya.

Yattha pīti nirujjhati, ye ca pītiṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti, ‘addhā te āyasmanto nicchātā nibbutā tiṇṇā pāraṅgatā tadaṅgenā’ti vadāmi. ‘Kattha pīti nirujjhati, ke ca pītiṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti ahametaṁ na jānāmi ahametaṁ na passāmī’ti, iti yo evaṁ vadeyya, so evamassa vacanīyo: ‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu pītiyā ca virāgā …pe… tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati; ettha pīti nirujjhati, te ca pītiṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharantī’ti. Addhā, bhikkhave, asaṭho amāyāvī ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinandeyya anumodeyya; ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā namassamāno pañjaliko payirupāseyya.

Yattha upekkhāsukhaṁ nirujjhati, ye ca upekkhāsukhaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti, ‘addhā te āyasmanto nicchātā nibbutā tiṇṇā pāraṅgatā tadaṅgenā’ti vadāmi. ‘Kattha upekkhāsukhaṁ nirujjhati, ke ca upekkhāsukhaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti ahametaṁ na jānāmi ahametaṁ na passāmī’ti, iti yo evaṁ vadeyya, so evamassa vacanīyo: ‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati; ettha upekkhāsukhaṁ nirujjhati, te ca upekkhāsukhaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharantī’ti. Addhā, bhikkhave, asaṭho amāyāvī ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinandeyya anumodeyya; ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā namassamāno pañjaliko payirupāseyya.

Yattha rūpasaññā nirujjhati, ye ca rūpasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti, ‘addhā te āyasmanto nicchātā nibbutā tiṇṇā pāraṅgatā tadaṅgenā’ti vadāmi. ‘Kattha rūpasaññā nirujjhati, ke ca rūpasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti ahametaṁ na jānāmi ahametaṁ na passāmī’ti, iti yo evaṁ vadeyya, so evamassa vacanīyo: ‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ananto ākāsoti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ettha rūpasaññā nirujjhati, te ca rūpasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharantī’ti. Addhā, bhikkhave, asaṭho amāyāvī ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinandeyya anumodeyya; ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā namassamāno pañjaliko payirupāseyya.

Yattha ākāsānañcāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, ye ca ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti, ‘addhā te āyasmanto nicchātā nibbutā tiṇṇā pāraṅgatā tadaṅgenā’ti vadāmi. ‘Kattha ākāsānañcāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, ke ca ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti ahametaṁ na jānāmi ahametaṁ na passāmī’ti, iti yo evaṁ vadeyya, so evamassa vacanīyo: ‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma anantaṁ viññāṇanti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ettha ākāsānañcāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, te ca ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharantī’ti. Addhā, bhikkhave, asaṭho amāyāvī ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinandeyya anumodeyya; ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā namassamāno pañjaliko payirupāseyya.

Yattha viññāṇañcāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, ye ca viññāṇañcāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti, ‘addhā te āyasmanto nicchātā nibbutā tiṇṇā pāraṅgatā tadaṅgenā’ti vadāmi. ‘Kattha viññāṇañcāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, ke ca viññāṇañcāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti ahametaṁ na jānāmi ahametaṁ na passāmī’ti, iti yo evaṁ vadeyya, so evamassa vacanīyo: ‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu sabbaso viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma natthi kiñcīti ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ettha viññāṇañcāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, te ca viññāṇañcāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharantī’ti. Addhā, bhikkhave, asaṭho amāyāvī ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinandeyya anumodeyya; ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā namassamāno pañjaliko payirupāseyya.

Yattha ākiñcaññāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, ye ca ākiñcaññāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti, ‘addhā te āyasmanto nicchātā nibbutā tiṇṇā pāraṅgatā tadaṅgenā’ti vadāmi. ‘Kattha ākiñcaññāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, ke ca ākiñcaññāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti ahametaṁ na jānāmi ahametaṁ na passāmī’ti, iti yo evaṁ vadeyya, so evamassa vacanīyo: ‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu sabbaso ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ettha ākiñcaññāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, te ca ākiñcaññāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharantī’ti. Addhā, bhikkhave, asaṭho amāyāvī ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinandeyya anumodeyya; ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā namassamāno pañjaliko payirupāseyya.

Yattha nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, ye ca nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti, ‘addhā te āyasmanto nicchātā nibbutā tiṇṇā pāraṅgatā tadaṅgenā’ti vadāmi. ‘Kattha nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, ke ca nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti ahametaṁ na jānāmi ahametaṁ na passāmī’ti, iti yo evaṁ vadeyya, so evamassa vacanīyo: ‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu sabbaso nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ettha nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, te ca nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharantī’ti. Addhā, bhikkhave, asaṭho amāyāvī ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinandeyya anumodeyya; ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā namassamāno pañjaliko payirupāseyya.

Imā kho, bhikkhave, nava anupubbavihārasamāpattiyo”ti.

Dutiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Navayimā, bhikkhave, anupubbavihārasamāpattiyo desessāmi, taṁ suṇātha …pe…

“Mendicants, I will teach you the nine progressive meditative attainments …

katamā ca, bhikkhave, nava anupubbavihārasamāpattiyo?

And what are the nine progressive meditative attainments?

Yattha kāmā nirujjhanti, ye ca kāme nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti, ‘addhā te āyasmanto nicchātā nibbutā tiṇṇā pāraṅgatā tadaṅgenā’ti vadāmi.

Where sensual pleasures cease, and those who have thoroughly ended sensual pleasures meditate, I say: ‘Clearly those venerables are desireless, quenched, crossed over, and gone beyond in that respect.’

‘Kattha kāmā nirujjhanti, ke ca kāme nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti

If someone should say, ‘I do not know or see where sensual pleasures cease’,

ahametaṁ na jānāmi ahametaṁ na passāmī’ti, iti yo evaṁ vadeyya, so evamassa vacanīyo:

they should be told:

‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

‘Reverend, it’s when a mendicant, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.

Ettha kāmā nirujjhanti, te ca kāme nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharantī’ti.

That’s where sensual pleasures cease.’

Addhā, bhikkhave, asaṭho amāyāvī ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinandeyya anumodeyya;

Clearly someone who is not devious or deceitful would approve and agree with that statement.

‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā namassamāno pañjaliko payirupāseyya.

They’d say ‘Good!’ and bowing down, they’d pay homage with cupped palms.

Yattha vitakkavicārā nirujjhanti, ye ca vitakkavicāre nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti, ‘addhā te āyasmanto nicchātā nibbutā tiṇṇā pāraṅgatā tadaṅgenā’ti vadāmi.

Where the placing of the mind and keeping it connected cease, and those who have thoroughly ended the placing of the mind and keeping it connected meditate, I say: ‘Clearly those venerables are desireless, quenched, crossed over, and gone beyond in that respect.’

‘Kattha vitakkavicārā nirujjhanti, ke ca vitakkavicāre nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti

If someone should say, ‘I do not know or see where the placing of the mind and keeping it connected cease’,

ahametaṁ na jānāmi ahametaṁ na passāmī’ti, iti yo evaṁ vadeyya, so evamassa vacanīyo:

they should be told:

‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā …pe… dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati;

‘It’s when a mendicant, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, enters and remains in the second absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of immersion, with internal clarity and mind at one, without placing the mind and keeping it connected.

ettha vitakkavicārā nirujjhanti, te ca vitakkavicāre nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharantī’ti.

That’s where the placing of the mind and keeping it connected cease.’

Addhā, bhikkhave, asaṭho amāyāvī ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinandeyya anumodeyya;

Clearly someone who is not devious or deceitful would approve and agree with that statement.

‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā namassamāno pañjaliko payirupāseyya.

They’d say ‘Good!’ and bowing down, they’d pay homage with cupped palms.

Yattha pīti nirujjhati, ye ca pītiṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti, ‘addhā te āyasmanto nicchātā nibbutā tiṇṇā pāraṅgatā tadaṅgenā’ti vadāmi.

Where rapture ceases, and those who have thoroughly ended rapture meditate, I say: ‘Clearly those venerables are desireless, quenched, crossed over, and gone beyond in that respect.’

‘Kattha pīti nirujjhati, ke ca pītiṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti

If someone should say, ‘I do not know or see where rapture ceases’,

ahametaṁ na jānāmi ahametaṁ na passāmī’ti, iti yo evaṁ vadeyya, so evamassa vacanīyo:

they should be told:

‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu pītiyā ca virāgā …pe… tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati;

‘It’s when a mendicant, with the fading away of rapture, enters and remains in the third absorption, where they meditate with equanimity, mindful and aware, personally experiencing the bliss of which the noble ones declare, “Equanimous and mindful, one meditates in bliss”.

ettha pīti nirujjhati, te ca pītiṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharantī’ti.

That’s where rapture ceases.’

Addhā, bhikkhave, asaṭho amāyāvī ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinandeyya anumodeyya;

Clearly someone who is not devious or deceitful would approve and agree with that statement.

‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā namassamāno pañjaliko payirupāseyya.

They’d say ‘Good!’ and bowing down, they’d pay homage with cupped palms.

Yattha upekkhāsukhaṁ nirujjhati, ye ca upekkhāsukhaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti, ‘addhā te āyasmanto nicchātā nibbutā tiṇṇā pāraṅgatā tadaṅgenā’ti vadāmi.

Where bliss with equanimity ceases, and those who have thoroughly ended bliss with equanimity meditate, I say: ‘Clearly those venerables are desireless, quenched, crossed over, and gone beyond in that respect.’

‘Kattha upekkhāsukhaṁ nirujjhati, ke ca upekkhāsukhaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti

If someone should say, ‘I do not know or see where bliss with equanimity ceases’,

ahametaṁ na jānāmi ahametaṁ na passāmī’ti, iti yo evaṁ vadeyya, so evamassa vacanīyo:

they should be told:

‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati;

‘It’s when a mendicant, with the giving up of pleasure and pain and the disappearance of former happiness and sadness, enters and remains in the fourth absorption, without pleasure or pain, with pure equanimity and mindfulness.

ettha upekkhāsukhaṁ nirujjhati, te ca upekkhāsukhaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharantī’ti.

That’s where bliss with equanimity ceases.’

Addhā, bhikkhave, asaṭho amāyāvī ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinandeyya anumodeyya;

Clearly someone who is not devious or deceitful would approve and agree with that statement.

‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā namassamāno pañjaliko payirupāseyya.

They’d say ‘Good!’ and bowing down, they’d pay homage with cupped palms.

Yattha rūpasaññā nirujjhati, ye ca rūpasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti, ‘addhā te āyasmanto nicchātā nibbutā tiṇṇā pāraṅgatā tadaṅgenā’ti vadāmi.

Where perceptions of form ceases, and those who have thoroughly ended perceptions of form meditate, I say: ‘Clearly those venerables are desireless, quenched, crossed over, and gone beyond in that respect.’

‘Kattha rūpasaññā nirujjhati, ke ca rūpasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti

If someone should say, ‘I do not know or see where perceptions of form ceases’,

ahametaṁ na jānāmi ahametaṁ na passāmī’ti, iti yo evaṁ vadeyya, so evamassa vacanīyo:

they should be told:

‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ananto ākāsoti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati.

‘It’s when a mendicant, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the disappearance of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that “space is infinite”, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space.

Ettha rūpasaññā nirujjhati, te ca rūpasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharantī’ti.

That’s where perceptions of form cease.’

Addhā, bhikkhave, asaṭho amāyāvī ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinandeyya anumodeyya;

Clearly someone who is not devious or deceitful would approve and agree with that statement.

‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā namassamāno pañjaliko payirupāseyya.

They’d say ‘Good!’ and bowing down, they’d pay homage with cupped palms.

Yattha ākāsānañcāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, ye ca ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti, ‘addhā te āyasmanto nicchātā nibbutā tiṇṇā pāraṅgatā tadaṅgenā’ti vadāmi.

Where the perception of the dimension of infinite space ceases, and those who have thoroughly ended the perception of the dimension of infinite space meditate, I say: ‘Clearly those venerables are desireless, quenched, crossed over, and gone beyond in that respect.’

‘Kattha ākāsānañcāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, ke ca ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti

If someone should say, ‘I do not know or see where the perception of the dimension of infinite space ceases’,

ahametaṁ na jānāmi ahametaṁ na passāmī’ti, iti yo evaṁ vadeyya, so evamassa vacanīyo:

they should be told:

‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma anantaṁ viññāṇanti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati.

‘It’s when a mendicant, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that “consciousness is infinite”, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite consciousness.

Ettha ākāsānañcāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, te ca ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharantī’ti.

That’s where the perception of the dimension of infinite space ceases.’

Addhā, bhikkhave, asaṭho amāyāvī ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinandeyya anumodeyya;

Clearly someone who is not devious or deceitful would approve and agree with that statement.

‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā namassamāno pañjaliko payirupāseyya.

They’d say ‘Good!’ and bowing down, they’d pay homage with cupped palms.

Yattha viññāṇañcāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, ye ca viññāṇañcāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti, ‘addhā te āyasmanto nicchātā nibbutā tiṇṇā pāraṅgatā tadaṅgenā’ti vadāmi.

Where the perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness ceases, and those who have thoroughly ended the perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness meditate, I say: ‘Clearly those venerables are desireless, quenched, crossed over, and gone beyond in that respect.’

‘Kattha viññāṇañcāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, ke ca viññāṇañcāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti

If someone should say, ‘I do not know or see where the perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness ceases’,

ahametaṁ na jānāmi ahametaṁ na passāmī’ti, iti yo evaṁ vadeyya, so evamassa vacanīyo:

they should be told:

‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu sabbaso viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma natthi kiñcīti ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati.

‘It’s when a mendicant, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite consciousness, aware that “there is nothing at all”, enters and remains in the dimension of nothingness.

Ettha viññāṇañcāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, te ca viññāṇañcāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharantī’ti.

That’s where the perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness ceases.’

Addhā, bhikkhave, asaṭho amāyāvī ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinandeyya anumodeyya;

Clearly someone who is not devious or deceitful would approve and agree with that statement.

‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā namassamāno pañjaliko payirupāseyya.

They’d say ‘Good!’ and bowing down, they’d pay homage with cupped palms.

Yattha ākiñcaññāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, ye ca ākiñcaññāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti, ‘addhā te āyasmanto nicchātā nibbutā tiṇṇā pāraṅgatā tadaṅgenā’ti vadāmi.

Where the perception of the dimension of nothingness ceases, and those who have thoroughly ended the perception of the dimension of nothingness meditate, I say: ‘Clearly those venerables are desireless, quenched, crossed over, and gone beyond in that respect.’

‘Kattha ākiñcaññāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, ke ca ākiñcaññāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti

If someone should say, ‘I do not know or see where the perception of the dimension of nothingness ceases’,

ahametaṁ na jānāmi ahametaṁ na passāmī’ti, iti yo evaṁ vadeyya, so evamassa vacanīyo:

they should be told:

‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu sabbaso ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati.

‘It’s when a mendicant, going totally beyond the dimension of nothingness, enters and remains in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.

Ettha ākiñcaññāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, te ca ākiñcaññāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharantī’ti.

That’s where the perception of the dimension of nothingness ceases.’

Addhā, bhikkhave, asaṭho amāyāvī ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinandeyya anumodeyya;

Clearly someone who is not devious or deceitful would approve and agree with that statement.

‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā namassamāno pañjaliko payirupāseyya.

They’d say ‘Good!’ and bowing down, they’d pay homage with cupped palms.

Yattha nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, ye ca nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti, ‘addhā te āyasmanto nicchātā nibbutā tiṇṇā pāraṅgatā tadaṅgenā’ti vadāmi.

Where the perception of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception ceases, and those who have thoroughly ended the perception of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception meditate, I say: ‘Clearly those venerables are desireless, quenched, crossed over, and gone beyond in that respect.’

‘Kattha nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, ke ca nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti

If someone should say, ‘I do not know or see where the perception of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception ceases’,

ahametaṁ na jānāmi ahametaṁ na passāmī’ti, iti yo evaṁ vadeyya, so evamassa vacanīyo:

they should be told:

‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu sabbaso nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ upasampajja viharati.

‘It’s when a mendicant, going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, enters and remains in the cessation of perception and feeling.

Ettha nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, te ca nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharantī’ti.

That’s where the perception of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception ceases.’

Addhā, bhikkhave, asaṭho amāyāvī ‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinandeyya anumodeyya;

Clearly someone who is not devious or deceitful would approve and agree with that statement.

‘sādhū’ti bhāsitaṁ abhinanditvā anumoditvā namassamāno pañjaliko payirupāseyya.

They’d say ‘Good!’ and bowing down, they’d pay homage with cupped palms.

Imā kho, bhikkhave, nava anupubbavihārasamāpattiyo”ti.

These are the nine progressive meditative attainments.”

Dutiyaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Attachment

Attachment

A mental fastening onto people, things, views, or states as “me” or “mine,” unwilling to release them. This clinging can give a sense of security and sweetness.

Also known as: acquisition, bond, clinging, grasping, holding on, possession, entanglement, bound, connected, taking as mine
Pāli: upadhi, upādāna, sakiñcana, mamatta
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Equanimity

Equanimity

A state of mental poise and balance, characterized by non-reactivity and composure in the face of agreeable or disagreeable experiences.

Also known as: mental poise, mental balance, equipose, non-reactivity, composure
Pāli: upekkha
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Jhana

Jhana

An abiding with a steady, collected awareness that is attained through seclusion from the five hindrances and unwholesome mental states. When supported by right view, a jhāna can be a basis for the wearing away of taints and directing the mind toward the vision of Nibbāna.

Also known as: meditation, undistracted awareness, absorption, mental absorption
Pāli: jhāna, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Respect

Respect

A mental attitude of reverent attentiveness that values goodness and wisdom in oneself and others. It steadies conduct and opens the mind to learning and humility.

Also known as: reverence, veneration, regard, admiration, appreciation, deference, honour, attentiveness
Pāli: gārava, pūjā, sakkāra
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Uplifting joy

Uplifting joy

An energetic mental quality that creates a sense of lift or thrill; it ranges from a gentle delight to overwhelming rapture.

Also known as: heartfelt joy, mental exhilaration, rapture, lit. refreshment
Pāli: pīti
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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Last updated on July 27, 2026