DN15 Mahānidāna: Dependent arising, language and non-self, by Piya Tan

5.17 Mahanidana S d15 piya.pdf (851.2 KB)

1 Like

Salutations, Ven.Sujato. This sutta talks about seven stations of consciousness.
“(1) There are, nanda, beings who are different [69] in body and different in perception, that is to
say, human beings, some devas, and some beings in the lower realms.
This is the first support for the consciousness.
(2) There are, nanda, beings who are different in body but same in perception, that is to say, the beings of the Brahma world who have arisen through the first dhyana.
This is the second support for the consciousness.
(3) There are, Ananda, beings who are same in body but different in perception, that is to say, the devas of streaming radiance (Abha-s,sara). [second jhana]
This is the third support for the consciousness.
(4) There are, Ananda, beings who are same in body and same in perception, that is to say, the devas of radiant glory (Subha,kinha). [third jhana]
This is the fourth support for the consciousness.
(5) There are, Ananda, beings who, through having utterly transcended the perception of physical form, the passing away of perceptions of impingement, and non-attention to the perception of diversity, (contemplating,) „Space is infinite,‟ arrive at the sphere of the infinity of space.
This is the fifth support for the consciousness.
(6) There are, Ananda, beings who, through having utterly transcended the sphere of the infinity of space, (contemplating,) „Consciousness is infinite,‟ arrive at the sphere of the infinity of consciousness.
This is the sixth support for the consciousness.
(7) There are, Ananda, beings who, through having utterly transcended the sphere of the infinity of consciousness, (contemplating,) „There is nothing,‟ arrive at the sphere of nothingness.
This is the seventh support for the consciousness.”

Where are the beings arisen through the fourth dhyana supported? In the fourth support for the consciousness (same as the devas of radiant glory (Subha,kinha) of the third jhana)?

Hi @brunobr,

Welcome to the D&D forum! We hope you enjoy the various resources, FAQs, and previous threads. You can use the search function for topics and keywords you are interested in. Forum guidelines are here: Forum Guidelines. May some of these resources be of assistance along the path.

If you have any questions or need further clarification regarding anything, feel free to contact the moderators by including @moderators in your post or a PM.

Regards,
michaelh (on behalf of the moderators)

1 Like

Same question for the beings in the Pure Abodes. Which is their station of consciousness? In the fourth support for the consciousness?

For the commentarial answer to your questions see pp. 101-2 of Bhikkhu Bodhi’s translation.

1 Like

Thanks Ven. Dhammanando. Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu.

1 Like

Sometimes I wonder if Bhikkhu Bodhi really was St. Thomas Aquinus in a prevous life. :wink: