The Meditative Experience of Nibbana - I

AN 10:6 The Meditative Experience of Nibbana - I

Translated from the Pali by Nyanaponika Thera and Bhikkhu Bodhi

Once the Venerable Ananda approached the Blessed One and asked:

“Can it be, Lord, that a monk attains to such a concentration of mind that in earth he is not percipient of earth, nor in water is he percipient of water, nor in fire … air … the base of the infinity of space … the base of the infinity of consciousness … the base of nothingness … the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception is he percipient of all these; nor is he percipient of this world or a world beyond—but yet he is percipient?”

“Yes, Ananda, there can be such a concentration of mind that in earth he is not percipient of earth … nor is he percipient of this world or a world beyond—but yet he is percipient.”

“But how, Lord, can a monk attain to such a concentration of mind?”

“Here, Ananda, the monk is percipient thus: ’This is the peaceful, this is the sublime, namely, the stilling of all formations, the relinquishment of all acquisitions, the destruction of craving, dispassion, cessation, Nibbana.’ It is in this way, Ananda, that a monk may attain to such a concentration of mind.”