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SN 40.6PTS SN 4.2661 min read

A Question About the Dimension of Infinite Consciousness

Viññāṇañcāyatanapañhāsutta

Moggallāna speaks to the mendicants of a time when his practice of the dimension of infinite consciousness was faltering. He expresses his gratitude for the Buddha, who urged him to stabilize that attainment.

Translated by Bhikkhu Sujato · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 40.6Linked Discourses 40.6
  • 0.21. Moggallānavagga1. By Moggallāna

0.3ViññāṇañcāyatanapañhāsuttaA Question About the Dimension of Infinite Consciousness

1.1PTS 4.267“‘Viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ, viññāṇañcāyatanan’ti vuccati.“They speak of this thing called the ‘dimension of infinite consciousness’.1.2Katamaṁ nu kho viññāṇañcāyatananti?What is the dimension of infinite consciousness?1.3Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, etadahosi:It occurred to me:1.4‘idha 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.1.5Idaṁ vuccati viññāṇañcāyatanan’ti.This is called the dimension of infinite consciousness.’

1.6So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma anantaṁ viññāṇanti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharāmi.And so … I was entering and remaining in the dimension of infinite consciousness.1.7Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, iminā vihārena viharato ākāsānañcāyatanasahagatā saññāmanasikārā samudācaranti.While I was in that meditation, perception and focus accompanied by the dimension of infinite space beset me.

2.1Atha kho maṁ, āvuso, bhagavā iddhiyā upasaṅkamitvā etadavoca:Then the Buddha came up to me with his psychic power and said,2.2‘moggallāna, moggallāna.‘Moggallāna, Moggallāna!2.3Mā, brāhmaṇa, viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ pamādo, viññāṇañcāyatane cittaṁ saṇṭhapehi, viññāṇañcāyatane cittaṁ ekodiṁ karohi, viññāṇañcāyatane cittaṁ samādahā’ti.Don’t neglect the dimension of infinite consciousness, brahmin! Settle your mind in the dimension of infinite consciousness; unify your mind and immerse it in the dimension of infinite consciousness.’

2.4So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, aparena samayena sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma anantaṁ viññāṇanti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja vihāsiṁ.And so, after some time … I entered and remained in the dimension of infinite consciousness.

2.5Yañhi taṁ, āvuso, sammā vadamāno vadeyya …pe… mahābhiññataṁ patto”ti.So if anyone should be rightly called a disciple who attained to great direct knowledge with help from the Teacher, it’s me.”

2.6Chaṭṭhaṁ.