Saṃyutta Nikāya
4. Saḷāyatana Vagga
40. Moggallāna Saṃyutta

The Book of the Kindred Sayings
4. The Book Called the Saḷāyatana-Vagga
Containing Kindred Sayings on the 'Six-Fold Sphere' of Sense and Other Subjects
40. Kindred Sayings about Moggallāna

Sutta 5

Ākāsanañ-c'Āyatana Suttaṃ

Space

Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids

Copyright The Pali Text Society
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[182]

[1][olds] THUS have I heard:

ONCE the venerable Moggallāna the Great was staying near Sāvatthī,
at Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

Then the venerable Moggallāna the Great
addressed the brethren, saving:

"Brethren."

"Yes, brother," replied those brethren
to the venerable Moggallāna the Great.

"Friends, when I was meditating alone here,
this consideration arose in me:

'They say "the realm of infinite space,
the realm of infinite space!"

Now what is the realm of infinite space?'

Then, friends, this occurred to me:

'Herein a brother,
passing utterly beyond the perception of objects,
by the coming to an end
of the perception of resistance,
by not attending to perception of diversity,
with the idea of
"infinite is space,"
enters on and abides in
the realm of infinite space.

This is called "the realm of infinite space."'

So I, friends,
passing utterly beyond the perception of objects,
by the coming to an end
of the perception of resistance,
by not attending to perception of diversity,
with the idea of
'infinite is space,'
entered on and abode in
the realm of infinite space.

But when I had thus abode
(and had emerged from trance),
perception and work of mind
connected with the perception of objects,
still continued.

Thereupon, friends, the Exalted One
by magic power
came to me and said:

'Moggallāna,
Moggallāna,
be not remiss in the realm of infinite space, brahmin!

Make steadfast thy mind in the realm of infinite space.

In the realm of infinite space make the mind one-pointed.

In the realm of infinite space compose the mind.'

So after that, friends,
passing utterly beyond the perception of objects,
by the coming to an end
of the perception of resistance,
by not attending to perception of diversity,
with the idea of
'infinite is space,'
I entered on and abode in
the realm of infinite space.

Now, friends, if anyone would say rightly:

'Helped by the Master
the disciple won great super-knowledge,'

he would say of me:

'Helped by the Master
did the disciple win great super-knowledge.'"