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SN 40.9PTS SN 4.2681 min read

A Question About the Signless

Animittapañhāsutta

Moggallāna speaks to the mendicants of a time when his practice of the signless immersion 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 40.9Linked Discourses 40.9
  • 0.21. Moggallānavagga1. By Moggallāna

0.3AnimittapañhāsuttaA Question About the Signless

1.1PTS 4.269“‘Animitto cetosamādhi, animitto cetosamādhī’ti vuccati.“They speak of this thing called the ‘signless immersion of the heart’.1.2Katamo nu kho animitto cetosamādhīti?What is the signless immersion of the heart?1.3Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, etadahosi:It occurred to me:1.4‘idha bhikkhu sabbanimittānaṁ amanasikārā animittaṁ cetosamādhiṁ upasampajja viharati.‘It’s when a mendicant, not focusing on any signs, enters and remains in the signless immersion of the heart.1.5Ayaṁ vuccati animitto cetosamādhī’ti.This is called the signless immersion of the heart.’

1.6So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, sabbanimittānaṁ amanasikārā animittaṁ cetosamādhiṁ upasampajja viharāmi.And so … I was entering and remaining in the signless immersion of the heart.1.7Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, iminā vihārena viharato nimittānusāri viññāṇaṁ hoti.While I was in that meditation, my consciousness followed after signs.

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, animittaṁ cetosamādhiṁ pamādo, animitte cetosamādhismiṁ cittaṁ saṇṭhapehi, animitte cetosamādhismiṁ cittaṁ ekodiṁ karohi, animitte cetosamādhismiṁ cittaṁ samādahā’ti.Don’t neglect the signless immersion of the heart, brahmin! Settle your mind in the signless immersion of the heart; unify your mind and immerse it in the signless immersion of the heart.’

2.4So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, aparena samayena sabbanimittānaṁ amanasikārā animittaṁ cetosamādhiṁ upasampajja vihāsiṁ.And so, after some time … I entered and remained in the signless immersion of the heart.

2.5Yañhi taṁ, āvuso, sammā vadamāno vadeyya:So if anyone should be rightly called2.6‘satthārānuggahito sāvako mahābhiññataṁ patto’ti, mamaṁ taṁ sammā vadamāno vadeyya:a disciple who attained to great direct knowledge with help from the Teacher, it’s me.”2.7‘satthārānuggahito sāvako mahābhiññataṁ patto’”ti.

2.8Navamaṁ.