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SN 40.8PTS SN 4.2681 min read

A Question About the Dimension of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception

Nevasaññānāsaññāyatanapañhāsutta

Moggallāna speaks to the mendicants of a time when his practice of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception 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 40.8Linked Discourses 40.8
  • 0.21. Moggallānavagga1. By Moggallāna

0.3NevasaññānāsaññāyatanapañhāsuttaA Question About the Dimension of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception

1.1“‘Nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ, nevasaññānāsaññāyatanan’ti vuccati.“They speak of this thing called the ‘dimension of neither perception nor non-perception’.1.2Katamaṁ nu kho nevasaññānāsaññāyatananti?What is the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception?1.3Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, etadahosi:It occurred to me:1.4‘idha 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.1.5Idaṁ vuccati nevasaññānāsaññāyatanan’ti.This is called the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.’

1.6So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, sabbaso ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharāmi.And so … I was entering and remaining in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.1.7Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, iminā vihārena viharato ākiñcaññāyatanasahagatā saññāmanasikārā samudācaranti.While I was in that meditation, perception and focus accompanied by the dimension of nothingness 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, nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ pamādo, nevasaññānāsaññāyatane cittaṁ saṇṭhapehi, nevasaññānāsaññāyatane cittaṁ ekodiṁ karohi, nevasaññānāsaññāyatane cittaṁ samādahā’ti.Don’t neglect the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, brahmin! Settle your mind in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception; unify your mind and immerse it in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.’

2.4So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, aparena samayena sabbaso ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja vihāsiṁ.And so, after some time … I entered and remained in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.

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.”

2.6Aṭṭhamaṁ.