AN 9.43 Kayasakkhi Sutta

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AN 9.43 Kayasakkhi Sutta : Bodily Witness
(Udayin:) "'Bodily witness, bodily witness,' it is said. To what extent is one described by the Lord Buddha as a bodily witness?"

(Ananda:) "There is the case, my friend, where a monk, withdrawn from sensuality, withdrawn from unskillful qualities, enters & remains in the first jhana/trance state: rapture & pleasure born from withdrawal, accompanied by directed thought & discernment. He remains touching with his body in whatever way there is an opening there (see AN9.35). It is to this extent that one is described by the Lord Buddha as a bodily witness, though with a sequel.

"Furthermore, with the stilling of directed thoughts & discernments, he enters & remains in the second jhana/trance state... the third jhana/trance state... the fourth jhana/trance state... the dimension of the infinitude of space... the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness... the dimension of nothingness... the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. He remains touching with his body in whatever way there is an opening there. It is to this extent that one is described by the Lord Buddha as a bodily witness, though with a sequel.

"Furthermore, with the complete transcending of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, he enters & remains in the cessation of perception & feeling. And as he sees with discernment, the mental fermentations(ideas/thoughts) go to their total end. He remains touching with his body in whatever way there is an opening there. It is to this extent that one is described by the Lord Buddha as a bodily witness without a sequel."

See also: AN9.44; AN9.45.