Saṃyutta Nikāya
3. Khandha Vagga
28. Sāriputta Saṃyutta
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
3. The Book Called the Khandhā-Vagga
Containing Kindred Sayings on the Elements of Sensory Existence and other Subjects
28. Kindred Sayings on Sāriputta
Sutta 5
Akāsa Suttaṃ
Space[1]
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[1] Thus have I heard:
Once the venerable Sāriputta was staying near Sāvatthī
at the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
Then the venerable Sāriputta,
rising at early dawn,
robed himself,
took bowl and robe
and entered Sāvatthī to beg for alms.
After going his begging-rounds in Sāvatthī
and returning from begging
he ate his meal
and drew near Dark Grove
for noonday rest.
Plunging into Dark Grove,
he sat down at the foot of a tree
for noonday rest.
Then the venerable Sāriputta,
rising at eventide from his solitude,
went to Jeta Grove
in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.
Now the venerable Ānanda
saw the venerable Sāriputta coming,
while yet he was far off,
and beholding the venerable Sāriputta
he thus spake to him:
"Calm are your senses, friend Sāriputta,
clear and translucent
the colour of your face.
In what mood
has the venerable Sāriputta
been spending this day?"
"Friend, passing utterly beyond
the consciousness of shape and form,
by the ending of the consciousness of resistance,[2]
by not attending to the consciousness of diversity,
I have attained
and have been dwelling in the sphere of the infinity of space, realizing:
'Infinite is space.'
To me thus, friend,
the thought never came:
'It is I
who am attaining the sphere of the infinity of space, realizing:
"Infinite is space."'
or
'It is I
who have attained the sphere of the infinity of space, realizing:
"Infinite is space."'
or
'It is I
who have emerged from the sphere of the infinity of space, realizing:
"Infinite is space."'"
"Surely for a long time
have leanings to I-making,
to mine-making
and to vanity
been well rooted out from the venerable Sāriputta.
That is why it occurs not
to the venerable Sāriputta:
'It is I
who am attaining the sphere of the infinity of space, realizing:
"Infinite is space."'
or
'It is I
who have attained the sphere of the infinity of space, realizing:
"Infinite is space."'
or
'It is I
who have emerged from the sphere of the infinity of space, realizing:
"Infinite is space."'"
[1] The full title ākāsānañcāyatanaṇ 'the sphere of unbounded space.' Cf. Mrs. Rh. D., B. Psy. 117 f.; Buddh. Psych.Ethics, §§ 265-8, nn. for this and following sections.
[2] Paṭigha-saññā 'awareness of opposition' (generally used of ethical opposition or dislike, but) here, perhaps, the subtle resistance of a separative force by which individuality is experienced.
