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"Further,
Ananda, the monk -- not attending to the perception of the sphere of
nothingness, not attending to the perception of the sphere of neither
perception nor non-perception -- attends to the singleness based on the
theme-less concentration of awareness. His mind takes pleasure, finds
satisfaction, settles, & indulges in its theme-less concentration of
awareness.
"He
discerns that 'This theme-less concentration of awareness is fabricated &
mentally fashioned.' And he discerns that 'Whatever is fabricated & mentally
fashioned is inconstant & subject to cessation.' For him -- thus knowing,
thus seeing -- the mind is released from the effluent of sensuality, the
effluent of becoming, the effluent of ignorance. With release, there is the
knowledge, 'Released.' He discerns that 'Birth is ended, the holy life
fulfilled, the task done. There is nothing further for this world.'
"He
discerns that 'Whatever disturbances would exist based on the effluent of
sensuality... the effluent of becoming... the effluent of ignorance, are not
present. And there is only this modicum of disturbance: that connected with the
six sensory spheres, dependent on this very body with life as its condition.'
He discerns that 'This mode of perception is empty of the effluent of
sensuality... becoming... ignorance. And there is just this non-emptiness: that
connected with the six sensory spheres, dependent on this very body with life
as its condition.' Thus he regards it as empty of whatever is not there.
Whatever remains, he discerns as present: 'There is this.' And so this, his
entry into emptiness, accords with actuality, is undistorted in meaning, pure
-- superior & unsurpassed.
"Ananda,
whatever contemplatives and priests who in the past entered & remained in
an emptiness that was pure, superior, & unsurpassed, they all entered &
remained in this very same emptiness that is pure, superior, & unsurpassed.
Whatever contemplatives and priests who in the future will enter & remain
in an emptiness that will be pure, superior, & unsurpassed, they all will
enter & remain in this very same emptiness that is pure, superior, &
unsurpassed. Whatever contemplatives and priests who at present enter &
remain in an emptiness that is pure, superior, & unsurpassed, they all
enter & remain in this very same emptiness that is pure, superior, &
unsurpassed.
"Therefore,
Ananda, you should train yourselves: 'We will enter & remain in the
emptiness that is pure, superior, & unsurpassed.'"
That
is what the Blessed One said. Gratified, Ven. Ananda delighted in the Blessed
One's words.
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