AN 9 The Book of the Nines – Navakanipāta > AN 9.42 Cramped

Numbered Discourses 9.42 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 9.42

5. Similarity – 5. Sāmaññavagga

AN 9.42 Cramped – Sambādhasutta

1.1

At one time Venerable Ānanda was staying near Kosambi, in Ghosita’s Monastery.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā ānando kosambiyaṁ viharati ghositārāme.

1.2

Then Venerable Udāyī went up to Venerable Ānanda and exchanged greetings with him.

Atha kho āyasmā udāyī yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā ānandena saddhiṁ sammodi.

1.3

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to Ānanda,

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā udāyī āyasmantaṁ ānandaṁ etadavoca:

1.4

“Reverend, this was said by the god Pañcālacaṇḍa:

“vuttamidaṁ, āvuso, pañcālacaṇḍena devaputtena:

2.1

‘The opening amid confinement

‘Sambādhe gataṁ okāsaṁ,

2.2

was discovered by the Buddha of vast intelligence,

Avidvā bhūrimedhaso;

2.3

who woke up to absorption,

Yo jhānamabujjhi buddho,

2.4

the sage, the solitary bull.’

Paṭilīnanisabho munī’ti.

3.1

But what is confinement, and what is the opening amid confinement that the Buddha spoke of?”

Katamo, āvuso, sambādho, katamo sambādhe okāsādhigamo vutto bhagavatā”ti?

3.2

“Reverend, these five kinds of sensual stimulation are called ‘confinement’ by the Buddha.

“Pañcime, āvuso, kāmaguṇā sambādho vutto bhagavatā.

3.3

What five?

Katame pañca?

3.4

Sights known by the eye that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.

Cakkhuviññeyyā rūpā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā,

3.5

Sounds known by the ear …

sotaviññeyyā saddā …pe…

3.6

Smells known by the nose …

ghānaviññeyyā gandhā …

3.7

Tastes known by the tongue …

jivhāviññeyyā rasā …

3.8

Touches known by the body that are likable, desirable, agreeable, pleasant, sensual, and arousing.

kāyaviññeyyā phoṭṭhabbā iṭṭhā kantā manāpā piyarūpā kāmūpasaṁhitā rajanīyā.

3.9

These are the five kinds of sensual stimulation that are called ‘confinement’ by the Buddha.

Ime kho, āvuso, pañca kāmaguṇā sambādho vutto bhagavatā.

4.1

Now, take a bhikkhu who, quite secluded from sensual pleasures … enters and remains in the first absorption.

Idhāvuso, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi …pe… paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

4.2

To this extent the Buddha spoke of creating an opening amid confinement in a qualified sense.

Ettāvatāpi kho, āvuso, sambādhe okāsādhigamo vutto bhagavatā pariyāyena.

4.3

But it is still confined.

Tatrāpatthi sambādho.

4.4

Confined by what?

Kiñca tattha sambādho?

4.5

Whatever placing of the mind and keeping it connected has not ceased is the confinement there.

Yadeva tattha vitakkavicārā aniruddhā honti, ayamettha sambādho.

5.1

Furthermore, take a bhikkhu who, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled … enters and remains in the second absorption.

Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā …pe… dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

5.2

To this extent the Buddha spoke of creating an opening amid confinement in a qualified sense.

Ettāvatāpi kho, āvuso, sambādhe okāsādhigamo vutto bhagavatā pariyāyena.

5.3

But it is still confined.

Tatrāpatthi sambādho.

5.4

Confined by what?

Kiñca tattha sambādho?

5.5

Whatever rapture has not ceased is the confinement there.

Yadeva tattha pīti aniruddhā hoti, ayamettha sambādho.

6.1

Furthermore, take a bhikkhu who, with the fading away of rapture … enters and remains in the third absorption.

Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu pītiyā ca virāgā …pe… tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

6.2

To this extent the Buddha spoke of creating an opening amid confinement in a qualified sense.

Ettāvatāpi kho, āvuso, sambādhe okāsādhigamo vutto bhagavatā pariyāyena.

6.3

But it is still confined.

Tatrāpatthi sambādho.

6.4

Confined by what?

Kiñca tattha sambādho?

6.5

Whatever equanimous bliss has not ceased is the confinement there.

Yadeva tattha upekkhāsukhaṁ aniruddhaṁ hoti, ayamettha sambādho.

7.1

Furthermore, take a bhikkhu who, giving up pleasure and pain … enters and remains in the fourth absorption.

Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati.

7.2

To this extent the Buddha spoke of creating an opening amid confinement in a qualified sense.

Ettāvatāpi kho, āvuso, sambādhe okāsādhigamo vutto bhagavatā pariyāyena.

7.3

But it is still confined.

Tatrāpatthi sambādho.

7.4

Confined by what?

Kiñca tattha sambādho?

7.5

Whatever perception of form has not ceased is the confinement there.

Yadeva tattha rūpasaññā aniruddhā hoti, ayamettha sambādho.

8.1

Furthermore, take a bhikkhu who, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space.

Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati.

8.2

To this extent the Buddha spoke of creating an opening amid confinement in a qualified sense.

Ettāvatāpi kho, āvuso, sambādhe okāsādhigamo vutto bhagavatā pariyāyena.

8.3

But it is still confined.

Tatrāpatthi sambādho.

8.4

Confined by what?

Kiñca tattha sambādho?

8.5

Whatever perception of the dimension of infinite space has not ceased is the confinement there.

Yadeva tattha ākāsānañcāyatanasaññā aniruddhā hoti, ayamettha sambādho.

9.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite consciousness.

Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati.

9.2

To this extent the Buddha spoke of creating an opening amid confinement in a qualified sense.

Ettāvatāpi kho, āvuso, sambādhe okāsādhigamo vutto bhagavatā pariyāyena.

9.3

But it is still confined.

Tatrāpatthi sambādho.

9.4

Confined by what?

Kiñca tattha sambādho?

9.5

Whatever perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness has not ceased is the confinement there.

Yadeva tattha viññāṇañcāyatanasaññā aniruddhā hoti, ayamettha sambādho.

10.1

Furthermore, a bhikkhu, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite consciousness, aware that ‘there is nothing at all’, enters and remains in the dimension of nothingness.

Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu sabbaso viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘natthi kiñcī’ti ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati.

10.2

To this extent the Buddha spoke of creating an opening amid confinement in a qualified sense.

Ettāvatāpi kho, āvuso, sambādhe okāsādhigamo vutto bhagavatā pariyāyena.

10.3

But it is still confined.

Tatrāpatthi sambādho.

10.4

Confined by what?

Kiñca tattha sambādho?

10.5

Whatever perception of the dimension of nothingness has not ceased is the confinement there.

Yadeva tattha ākiñcaññāyatanasaññā aniruddhā hoti, ayamettha sambādho.

11.1

Furthermore, take a bhikkhu who, going totally beyond the dimension of nothingness, enters and remains in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.

Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu sabbaso ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati.

11.2

To this extent the Buddha spoke of creating an opening amid confinement in a qualified sense.

Ettāvatāpi kho, āvuso, sambādhe okāsādhigamo vutto bhagavatā pariyāyena.

11.3

But it is still confined.

Tatrāpatthi sambādho.

11.4

Confined by what?

Kiñca tattha sambādho?

11.5

Whatever perception of neither perception nor non-perception has not ceased is the confinement there.

Yadeva tattha nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññā aniruddhā hoti, ayamettha sambādho.

12.1

Furthermore, take a bhikkhu who, going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, enters and remains in the cessation of perception and feeling. And, having seen with wisdom, their defilements come to an end.

Puna caparaṁ, āvuso, bhikkhu sabbaso nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ upasampajja viharati, paññāya cassa disvā āsavā parikkhīṇā honti.

12.2

To this extent the Buddha spoke of creating an opening amid confinement in a definitive sense.”

Ettāvatāpi kho, āvuso, sambādhe okāsādhigamo vutto bhagavatā nippariyāyenā”ti.

12.3

Paṭhamaṁ.