樂想經

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Bhagavān was dwelling in the Jeta Grove, in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time the World-Honored One addressed the bhikṣus:

"There are śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas who, with respect to earth, hold a perception of earth, delight in earth, and grasp at earth as the self. Such a one says, 'Earth is the self.' I say that such a one does not yet truly know water, fire, wind, the celestial spirits, the Brahmā gods, the Ābhāsvara gods, and the Avṛha gods; and who, with respect to the pure, hold a perception of the pure, delight in the pure, and grasp at the pure as the self.

Such a one says, 'The pure is the self.' I declare that such a one does not yet know the sphere of infinite space, the sphere of infinite consciousness, the sphere of nothingness, and the sphere of neither-perception, whether one or many, whether separately seen, heard, or cognized in the practice of contemplative awareness, from this life to the next, from the next life to this. Because such a one holds this perception, he delights in it; because he delights in it, he grasps at it as the self.

Once such a one has wholly grasped at it as the self, I declare that such a one does not (truly) know it.

"There are śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas who hold earth to be a supernatural power, do not delight in earth, and because they do not delight in earth, do not grasp at earth as the self. Such a one does not say, 'Earth is the self.' I say that such a one has known water, fire, wind, the celestial spirits, the Brahmā gods, the Ābhāsvara gods, and the Avṛha gods. Holding the pure to be a supernatural power, they do not delight in the pure, and because they do not delight in the pure, they do not regard the pure as the self.

I declare that such a one has known the sphere of infinite space, the sphere of infinite consciousness, the sphere of nothingness, and the sphere of neither-perception, whether one or many, whether separately seen, heard, or cognized in the practice of contemplative awareness, from this life to the next, from the next life to this. Such a one wields all supernatural powers, yet shows that he does not delight in them, neither relishes them, nor grasps at them as the self, nor says, 'This is the self.' I say that such a one has known all.

"Furthermore, I hold earth to be a supernatural power; I do not delight in earth, do not relish earth, do not regard earth as the self, and I do not grasp at earth. I have known water, fire, wind, the celestial spirits, the Brahmā gods, the Ābhāsvara gods, and the Avṛha gods. These supernatural powers I do not regard as pure, and because I do not regard them as pure, I do not grasp at the pure as the self.

I have known the sphere of infinite space, the sphere of infinite consciousness, the sphere of nothingness, and the sphere of neither-perception, whether one or many, whether separately seen, heard, or cognized in the practice of contemplative awareness, from this life to the next, from the next life to this. All supernatural powers I do not delight in, and because I do not delight in them, I do not grasp at them as the self.

Therefore I have known them."

Thus did the Buddha speak. The bhikṣus, having heard what the World-Honored One had spoken, were joyful and delighted, and utterly extinguished the cause of grasping at the self.

THE BUDDHA SPEAKS THE SŪTRA ON THE PERCEPTION OF DELIGHT