The Lesser Discourse on Emptiness
Once, the Blessed One was residing in Savatthi, at the Eastern Monastery in the palace of Migara’s mother. One evening, after coming out of seclusion, Venerable Ananda approached the Blessed One. He bowed respectfully, then sat down to one side. As he settled, he addressed the Blessed One: “When you were staying among the Sakyans in a town called Nagaraka, I heard you say directly, ‘I now abide fully in a state of emptiness.’ Did I hear, learn, and remember that correctly?”
The Buddha replied, “Yes, Ananda, you heard and remembered that correctly. Both then and now, I dwell in a state of emptiness. Just as this palace of Migara’s mother is devoid of elephants, cattle, horses, gold, silver, and gatherings of men and women—containing only the community of monks—so too, a monk, setting aside the perceptions of village and human beings, focuses solely on the perception of the wilderness. His mind finds delight, satisfaction, and settles into the experience of the wilderness.
“He understands, ‘The disturbances that arise from the perception of villages and human beings are absent. There is only a slight disturbance: the singular perception of the wilderness.’ He recognizes that this perception is empty of village and human presence, containing only the wilderness. Thus, he regards it as empty of what is not present, and whatever remains, he acknowledges as existing: ‘This is present.’ In this way, his entry into emptiness aligns with reality, is undistorted, and pure.
The Perception of Earth
“Furthermore, Ananda, a monk, setting aside perceptions of human beings and the wilderness, directs his attention to the singularity of the earth. Just as a bull’s hide stretched with many pegs becomes smooth, without considering the earth’s ridges, valleys, or rugged features, the monk focuses solely on the earth. His mind finds pleasure, satisfaction, and settles into this perception.
“He discerns that disturbances linked to human and wilderness perceptions are not present, with only a slight disturbance: the singular perception of the earth. He sees that this perception is empty of human beings and wilderness, containing only the perception of earth. Thus, he regards what is absent as empty, while acknowledging what remains as present: ‘This is here.’ This entry into emptiness is true to reality, pure and undistorted.
The Infinitude of Space
“Next, Ananda, the monk shifts his focus from the earth to the boundless dimension of space. His mind takes delight, finds satisfaction, and becomes settled in this boundless perception.
“He discerns that disturbances from earth and wilderness perceptions are absent. The only slight disturbance is the boundless perception of space. He realizes that this perception is empty of earth and wilderness, containing only the infinitude of space. He regards what is absent as empty, and what remains as present: ‘This is here.’ His entry into emptiness aligns with reality and remains undistorted.
The Infinitude of Consciousness
“Further still, Ananda, the monk leaves behind the perception of space and attends to the boundless dimension of consciousness. His mind finds delight, satisfaction, and settles into the vastness of consciousness.
“He discerns that disturbances from space and earth are absent, with only a slight disturbance: the vast perception of consciousness. He recognizes that this perception is empty of space and earth, leaving only the boundless consciousness. He sees what is absent as empty and acknowledges what remains: ‘This is here.’ His entry into emptiness is true to reality and remains pure.
The Dimension of Nothingness
“Then, Ananda, the monk turns from consciousness to focus on the dimension of nothingness. His mind finds delight, satisfaction, and settles into this emptiness.
“He discerns that disturbances from the perceptions of consciousness and space are not present, leaving only the perception of nothingness. He realizes that this state is empty of consciousness and space, containing only nothingness. He sees what is not there as empty and acknowledges what remains: ‘This is here.’ This entry into emptiness aligns with reality and remains pure.
Neither Perception nor Non-Perception
“Moving further, Ananda, the monk lets go of nothingness and directs his attention to a subtle state: neither perception nor non-perception. His mind takes pleasure, finds satisfaction, and settles into this refined state.
“He discerns that disturbances from the perceptions of nothingness and consciousness are absent. The only disturbance is the perception of neither perception nor non-perception. He recognizes that this state is empty of the previous perceptions, containing only this subtle awareness. What is not present is regarded as empty, while what remains is acknowledged: ‘This is here.’ This entry into emptiness is pure and aligned with reality.
Theme-Less Concentration
“Then, Ananda, the monk ceases to attend to even the perception of neither perception nor non-perception. He focuses on a state of awareness without a specific theme. His mind finds delight, satisfaction, and settles into this unthemed awareness.
“He discerns that the disturbances from the perceptions of nothingness and subtle awareness are absent, leaving only a slight disturbance related to the six sensory bases, grounded in the body with life as its condition. He recognizes that this awareness is empty of nothingness and neither perception nor non-perception, acknowledging what remains as ‘This is here.’ His entry into emptiness accords with reality, remains undistorted, and pure.
Liberation
“Finally, Ananda, the monk, through insight, realizes that this state of unthemed awareness is a mental construct, subject to change. Knowing this, he becomes free from the afflictions of sensuality, becoming, and ignorance. With release comes the realization: ‘I am free.’ He knows that birth is ended, the holy life fulfilled, and the task is complete. There is nothing more for him in this world.
“He discerns that disturbances tied to sensuality, becoming, and ignorance are absent, leaving only a slight disturbance related to the sensory bases, grounded in the body. He acknowledges the emptiness of sensuality, becoming, and ignorance, while recognizing what remains: ‘This is here.’ His entry into emptiness aligns with truth, remains undistorted, and is pure—unsurpassed.
“Ananda, all past, present, and future contemplatives who have entered and abided in a pure, unsurpassed emptiness have done so in this very same way. Therefore, you should train yourselves to enter and abide in the emptiness that is pure, superior, and unsurpassed.”
Hearing this, Venerable Ananda was delighted and deeply satisfied with the Blessed One’s words.
Link: https://wisdomtea.org/2024/10/17/the-lesser-discourse-on-emptiness/
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