The Buddha describes the seven elements of radiance, beauty, boundless space, boundless consciousness, nothingness, neither perception nor non-perception, and cessation of perception and what is felt, and how they can be discerned and realized.
Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.
At Sāvatthi.
“Sattimā, bhikkhave, dhātuyo. Katamā satta? Ābhādhātu, subhadhātu, ākāsānañcāyatanadhātu, viññāṇañcāyatanadhātu, ākiñcaññāyatanadhātu, nevasaññānāsaññāyatanadhātu, saññāvedayitanirodhadhātu— imā kho, bhikkhave, satta dhātuyo”ti.
“Bhikkhus, there are these seven elements. What seven? The element of radiance, the element of beauty, the element of the base of boundless space, the element of the base of boundless consciousness, the element of the base of nothingness, the element of the base of neither perception nor non-perception, and the element of the cessation of perception and what is felt. These are the seven elements.”
Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “yā cāyaṁ, bhante, ābhādhātu yā ca subhadhātu yā ca ākāsānañcāyatanadhātu yā ca viññāṇañcāyatanadhātu yā ca ākiñcaññāyatanadhātu yā ca nevasaññānāsaññāyatanadhātu yā ca saññāvedayitanirodhadhātu—imā nu kho, bhante, dhātuyo kiṁ paṭicca paññāyantī”ti?
When this was said, a certain bhikkhu said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, the element of radiance, the element of beauty, the element of the base of boundless space, the element of the base of boundless consciousness, the element of the base of nothingness, the element of the base of neither perception nor non-perception, and the element of the cessation of perception and what is felt—in dependence on what are these elements |discerned::clearly known, evident [paññāyati]|?”
“Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, ābhādhātu—ayaṁ dhātu andhakāraṁ paṭicca paññāyati.
1.) “Bhikkhu, the element of |radiance::luminosity [ābhā]| is discerned in dependence on |darkness::ignorance [andhakāra]|.
Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, subhadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu asubhaṁ paṭicca paññāyati.
2.) The element of |beauty::goodness, excellence [subha]| is discerned in dependence on |unattractiveness::disagreeableness, recognizing the not aesthetically pleasing characteristics [asubha]|.
Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, ākāsānañcāyatanadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu rūpaṁ paṭicca paññāyati.
3.) The element of the base of boundless space is discerned in dependence on |form::experience of material world, physical objects of consciousness, first of the five aggregates [rūpa]|.
Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, viññāṇañcāyatanadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ paṭicca paññāyati.
4.) The element of the base of boundless consciousness is discerned in dependence on the |base of boundless space::field of boundless expanse, sometimes translated as dimension of infinite space [ākāsānañcāyatana]|.
Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, ākiñcaññāyatanadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ paṭicca paññāyati.
5.) The element of the base of nothingness is discerned in dependence on the |base of boundless consciousness::field of limitless awareness [viññāṇañcāyatana]|.
Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, nevasaññānāsaññāyatanadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ paṭicca paññāyati.
6.) The element of the |base of neither perception nor non-perception::field of awareness of subtle mental activity that do not arise to the level of forming a clear perception [nevasaññānāsaññāyatana]| is discerned in dependence on the |base of nothingness::field of awareness centered on the absence of any distinct “something” to grasp or hold onto [ākiñcaññāyatana]|.
Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, saññāvedayitanirodhadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu nirodhaṁ paṭicca paññāyatī”ti.
7.) The element of the cessation of perception and what is felt is discerned in dependence on |ending::cessation, termination [nirodha]|.”
“Yā cāyaṁ, bhante, ābhādhātu yā ca subhadhātu yā ca ākāsānañcāyatanadhātu yā ca viññāṇañcāyatanadhātu yā ca ākiñcaññāyatanadhātu yā ca nevasaññānāsaññāyatanadhātu yā ca saññāvedayitanirodhadhātu—imā nu kho, bhante, dhātuyo kathaṁ samāpatti pattabbā”ti?
“Venerable sir, the element of radiance, the element of beauty, the element of the base of boundless space, the element of the base of boundless consciousness, the element of the base of nothingness, the element of the base of neither perception nor non-perception, and the element of the cessation of perception and what is felt—how is the |attainment::meditation attainment, committing of [samāpatti]| of these elements to be realized?”
“Yā cāyaṁ, bhikkhu, ābhādhātu yā ca subhadhātu yā ca ākāsānañcāyatanadhātu yā ca viññāṇañcāyatanadhātu yā ca ākiñcaññāyatanadhātu—imā dhātuyo saññāsamāpatti pattabbā. Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, nevasaññānāsaññāyatanadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu saṅkhārāvasesasamāpatti pattabbā. Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, saññāvedayitanirodhadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu nirodhasamāpatti pattabbā”ti.
“Bhikkhu, the element of radiance, the element of beauty, the element of the base of boundless space, the element of the base of boundless consciousness, and the element of the base of nothingness—these elements are to be realized as attainments of perception. The element of the base of neither perception nor non-perception is to be realized as an attainment |with a residue of formations::with subtle mental activity that does not arise to the level of forming a perception [saṅkhāra]|. The element of the cessation of perception and what is felt is to be realized as an attainment of cessation.”
At Sāvatthi.
“Bhikkhus, there are these seven elements. What seven? The element of radiance, the element of beauty, the element of the base of boundless space, the element of the base of boundless consciousness, the element of the base of nothingness, the element of the base of neither perception nor non-perception, and the element of the cessation of perception and what is felt. These are the seven elements.”
When this was said, a certain bhikkhu said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, the element of radiance, the element of beauty, the element of the base of boundless space, the element of the base of boundless consciousness, the element of the base of nothingness, the element of the base of neither perception nor non-perception, and the element of the cessation of perception and what is felt—in dependence on what are these elements |discerned::clearly known, evident [paññāyati]|?”
1.) “Bhikkhu, the element of |radiance::luminosity [ābhā]| is discerned in dependence on |darkness::ignorance [andhakāra]|.
2.) The element of |beauty::goodness, excellence [subha]| is discerned in dependence on |unattractiveness::disagreeableness, recognizing the not aesthetically pleasing characteristics [asubha]|.
3.) The element of the base of boundless space is discerned in dependence on |form::experience of material world, physical objects of consciousness, first of the five aggregates [rūpa]|.
4.) The element of the base of boundless consciousness is discerned in dependence on the |base of boundless space::field of boundless expanse, sometimes translated as dimension of infinite space [ākāsānañcāyatana]|.
5.) The element of the base of nothingness is discerned in dependence on the |base of boundless consciousness::field of limitless awareness [viññāṇañcāyatana]|.
6.) The element of the |base of neither perception nor non-perception::field of awareness of subtle mental activity that do not arise to the level of forming a clear perception [nevasaññānāsaññāyatana]| is discerned in dependence on the |base of nothingness::field of awareness centered on the absence of any distinct “something” to grasp or hold onto [ākiñcaññāyatana]|.
7.) The element of the cessation of perception and what is felt is discerned in dependence on |ending::cessation, termination [nirodha]|.”
“Venerable sir, the element of radiance, the element of beauty, the element of the base of boundless space, the element of the base of boundless consciousness, the element of the base of nothingness, the element of the base of neither perception nor non-perception, and the element of the cessation of perception and what is felt—how is the |attainment::meditation attainment, committing of [samāpatti]| of these elements to be realized?”
“Bhikkhu, the element of radiance, the element of beauty, the element of the base of boundless space, the element of the base of boundless consciousness, and the element of the base of nothingness—these elements are to be realized as attainments of perception. The element of the base of neither perception nor non-perception is to be realized as an attainment |with a residue of formations::with subtle mental activity that does not arise to the level of forming a perception [saṅkhāra]|. The element of the cessation of perception and what is felt is to be realized as an attainment of cessation.”
Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.
“Sattimā, bhikkhave, dhātuyo. Katamā satta? Ābhādhātu, subhadhātu, ākāsānañcāyatanadhātu, viññāṇañcāyatanadhātu, ākiñcaññāyatanadhātu, nevasaññānāsaññāyatanadhātu, saññāvedayitanirodhadhātu— imā kho, bhikkhave, satta dhātuyo”ti.
Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “yā cāyaṁ, bhante, ābhādhātu yā ca subhadhātu yā ca ākāsānañcāyatanadhātu yā ca viññāṇañcāyatanadhātu yā ca ākiñcaññāyatanadhātu yā ca nevasaññānāsaññāyatanadhātu yā ca saññāvedayitanirodhadhātu—imā nu kho, bhante, dhātuyo kiṁ paṭicca paññāyantī”ti?
“Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, ābhādhātu—ayaṁ dhātu andhakāraṁ paṭicca paññāyati.
Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, subhadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu asubhaṁ paṭicca paññāyati.
Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, ākāsānañcāyatanadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu rūpaṁ paṭicca paññāyati.
Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, viññāṇañcāyatanadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ paṭicca paññāyati.
Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, ākiñcaññāyatanadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ paṭicca paññāyati.
Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, nevasaññānāsaññāyatanadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ paṭicca paññāyati.
Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, saññāvedayitanirodhadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu nirodhaṁ paṭicca paññāyatī”ti.
“Yā cāyaṁ, bhante, ābhādhātu yā ca subhadhātu yā ca ākāsānañcāyatanadhātu yā ca viññāṇañcāyatanadhātu yā ca ākiñcaññāyatanadhātu yā ca nevasaññānāsaññāyatanadhātu yā ca saññāvedayitanirodhadhātu—imā nu kho, bhante, dhātuyo kathaṁ samāpatti pattabbā”ti?
“Yā cāyaṁ, bhikkhu, ābhādhātu yā ca subhadhātu yā ca ākāsānañcāyatanadhātu yā ca viññāṇañcāyatanadhātu yā ca ākiñcaññāyatanadhātu—imā dhātuyo saññāsamāpatti pattabbā. Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, nevasaññānāsaññāyatanadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu saṅkhārāvasesasamāpatti pattabbā. Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, saññāvedayitanirodhadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu nirodhasamāpatti pattabbā”ti.