mn121:1.1So I have heard.This sutta gives a unique approach to meditation on emptiness, using the perception of relative emptiness as a foundation for absorption.
The topic of emptiness does not play the central role in Pali texts that it did in later Buddhism. This is perhaps at least partly due to different doctrinal developments in the early Buddhist schools. Passages that in the Pali mention impermanence, suffering, and not-self, in parallels of the (Mūla)-Sarvāstivāda often include emptiness as well. This does not indicate any doctrinal contradiction, as emptiness is explained as meaning not-self. But it does suggest that the presentation in terms of emptiness was more popular in that group of schools. At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother in the Eastern Monastery.

mn121:2.1Then in the late afternoon, Venerable Ānanda came out of retreat and went to the Buddha. He bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

mn121:3.1“Sir, this one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans where they have a town named Townsville. There I heard and learned this in the presence of the Buddha:“I heard and learned this in the presence” (sammukhā sutaṁ, sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ) is the phrase used in the suttas when reporting a teaching heard directly from the Buddha, eg. SN55.52 verse 5, SN22.90 verse 9, MN47:10.1, etc. ‘Ānanda, these days I usually practice the meditation on emptiness.’The same thing is said by Sāriputta at MN151:2.3, upon which the Buddha encourages him to reflect on the purity of his almsfood. Before the Second Council, the elder monk Sabbakāmī revealed that emptiness was his main practice too (Khandaka 22 verse 36), while at Therigatha 3 verses 45 - , the bhikkhunī Uttamā also claims to practice emptiness meditation. The release through emptiness is classified along with absorption as a superhuman attainment (Bhikkhu Parajika 4 verses 41 - ). At MN43:33.1 = SN41.7, the “release of the heart through emptiness” is a reflection on not-self (see too SN35.85, AN9.36, Snp5.16, Theragatha 19 verse 1120 - ). I trust I properly heard, learned, applied the mind, and remembered that from the Buddha?”Notice the process of learning teachings through active engagement. Simply “hearing” it is just the beginning.

mn121:3.5“Indeed, Ānanda, you properly heard, learned, applied the mind, and remembered that. Now, as before, I usually practice the meditation on emptiness.

mn121:4.1Consider this stilt longhouse of Migāra’s mother. It’s empty of elephants, cows, horses, and mares; of gold and silver; and of gatherings of men and women.Emptiness is not a metaphysical property, but a relative state: something is empty of something. There is only this that is not emptiness, namely, the oneness dependent on the mendicant Saṅgha.Oneness, like emptiness, is a relative concept. Those things that are more distracting and tempting are absent, leaving only that which is more peaceful. In the same way, a mendicant—ignoring the perception of the village and the perception of people—focuses on the oneness dependent on the perception of wilderness. Their mind leaps forth, gains confidence, settles down, and becomes decided in that perception of wilderness. They understand: ‘Here there is no stress due to the perception of village or the perception of people.“Stress” is darathā. There is only this modicum of stress, namely the oneness dependent on the perception of wilderness.’ They understand: ‘This field of perception is empty of the perception of the village. It is empty of the perception of people. There is only this that is not emptiness, namely the oneness dependent on the perception of wilderness.’ And so they regard it as empty of what is not there, but as to what remains they understand that it is present.That is to say, the “purity” of the emptiness is not because everything is empty, but because what is empty is accurately recognized as empty. That’s how emptiness manifests in them—genuine, undistorted, and pure.

mn121:5.1Furthermore, a mendicant—ignoring the perception of people and the perception of wilderness—focuses on the oneness dependent on the perception of earth. Their mind leaps forth, gains confidence, settles down, and becomes decided in that perception of earth. As a bull’s hide is rid of folds when fully stretched out by a hundred pegs, so too, ignoring the hilly terrain, inaccessible riverlands, stumps and thorns, and rugged mountains, they focus on the oneness dependent on the perception of earth.The perception of earth is an idealized inner conceptual image. This is the “form” (rūpa) that is the basis for “absorption on luminous form” (rūpajjhāna). The commentaries call this the nimitta (“sign”). Their mind leaps forth, gains confidence, settles down, and becomes decided in that perception of earth. They understand: ‘Here there is no stress due to the perception of people or the perception of wilderness. There is only this modicum of stress, namely the oneness dependent on the perception of earth.’ They understand: ‘This field of perception is empty of the perception of people. It is empty of the perception of wilderness. There is only this that is not emptiness, namely the oneness dependent on the perception of earth.’ And so they regard it as empty of what is not there, but as to what remains they understand that it is present. That’s how emptiness manifests in them—genuine, undistorted, and pure.

mn121:6.1Furthermore, a mendicant—ignoring the perception of wilderness and the perception of earth—focuses on the oneness dependent on the perception of the dimension of infinite space.The meditator moves from a practice dependent on an aspect of “form” (rūpa), namely the idealized image of earth as the basis for the four absorptions, to the formless meditations. Their mind leaps forth, gains confidence, settles down, and becomes decided in that perception of the dimension of infinite space. They understand: ‘Here there is no stress due to the perception of wilderness or the perception of earth. There is only this modicum of stress, namely the oneness dependent on the perception of the dimension of infinite space.’ They understand: ‘This field of perception is empty of the perception of wilderness. It is empty of the perception of earth. There is only this that is not emptiness, namely the oneness dependent on the perception of the dimension of infinite space.’ And so they regard it as empty of what is not there, but as to what remains they understand that it is present. That’s how emptiness manifests in them—genuine, undistorted, and pure.

mn121:7.1Furthermore, a mendicant—ignoring the perception of earth and the perception of the dimension of infinite space—focuses on the oneness dependent on the perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness. Their mind leaps forth, gains confidence, settles down, and becomes decided in that perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness. They understand: ‘Here there is no stress due to the perception of earth or the perception of the dimension of infinite space. There is only this modicum of stress, namely the oneness dependent on the perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness.’ They understand: ‘This field of perception is empty of the perception of earth. It is empty of the perception of the dimension of infinite space. There is only this modicum of stress, namely the oneness dependent on the perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness.’ And so they regard it as empty of what is not there, but as to what remains they understand that it is present. That’s how emptiness manifests in them—genuine, undistorted, and pure.

mn121:8.1Furthermore, a mendicant—ignoring the perception of the dimension of infinite space and the perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness—focuses on the oneness dependent on the perception of the dimension of nothingness. Their mind leaps forth, gains confidence, settles down, and becomes decided in that perception of the dimension of nothingness. They understand: ‘Here there is no stress due to the perception of the dimension of infinite space or the perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness. There is only this modicum of stress, namely the oneness dependent on the perception of the dimension of nothingness.’ They understand: ‘This field of perception is empty of the perception of the dimension of infinite space. It is empty of the perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness. There is only this that is not emptiness, namely the oneness dependent on the perception of the dimension of nothingness.’ And so they regard it as empty of what is not there, but as to what remains they understand that it is present. That’s how emptiness manifests in them—genuine, undistorted, and pure.

mn121:9.1Furthermore, a mendicant—ignoring the perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness and the perception of the dimension of nothingness—focuses on the oneness dependent on the perception of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. Their mind leaps forth, gains confidence, settles down, and becomes decided in that perception of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. They understand: ‘Here there is no stress due to the perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness or the perception of the dimension of nothingness. There is only this modicum of stress, namely the oneness dependent on the perception of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.’ They understand: ‘This field of perception is empty of the perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness. It is empty of the perception of the dimension of nothingness. There is only this that is not emptiness, namely the oneness dependent on the perception of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.’ And so they regard it as empty of what is not there, but as to what remains they understand that it is present. That’s how emptiness manifests in them—genuine, undistorted, and pure.

mn121:10.1Furthermore, a mendicant—ignoring the perception of the dimension of nothingness and the perception of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception—focuses on the oneness dependent on the signless immersion of the heart.The defining characteristic of the “signless immersion of the heart” is that consciousness does not “follow after signs” (nimittānusāri viññāṇaṁ, eg. AN6.13:5.3). This is explained in MN138:10.2 as not being distracted or affected by the features of sense impressions, as the “signs” are created by greed, hate, and delusion (MN43:37.1). By itself, however, it does not necessarily indicate that one is awakened (AN6.60 vers 2), as good conduct is still required for progress (AN7.56). It was practiced by Moggallāna before awakening, who had to be urged to “not follow any signs” (SN40.9). It may also be used to describe the meditation of an arahant (SN41.7 verse 6 - ). Their mind leaps forth, gains confidence, settles down, and becomes decided in that signless immersion of the heart. They understand: ‘Here there is no stress due to the perception of the dimension of nothingness or the perception of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. There is only this modicum of stress, namely that related to the six sense fields dependent on this body and conditioned by life.’Unlike with deep absorption, where there is no experience of the physical body, the signless meditation is a state of advanced discernment or insight where the six senses are seen as they truly are. This explains why it was a way for the Buddha to ease the pains of old age (DN16:2.25.9). It seems that in such a state, the Buddha was able to function normally while seeing through the pain in his body. They understand: ‘This field of perception is empty of the perception of the dimension of nothingness. It is empty of the perception of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. There is only this that is not emptiness, namely that related to the six sense fields dependent on this body and conditioned by life.’ And so they regard it as empty of what is not there, but as to what remains they understand that it is present. That’s how emptiness manifests in them—genuine, undistorted, and pure.

mn121:11.1Furthermore, a mendicant—ignoring the perception of the dimension of nothingness and the perception of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception—focuses on the oneness dependent on the signless immersion of the heart. Their mind leaps forth, gains confidence, settles down, and becomes decided in that signless immersion of the heart. They understand: ‘Even this signless immersion of the heart is produced by choices and intentions.’Liberating insight comes from insight into the state of signless meditation, that is to say, it is the insight into insight itself. They understand: ‘But whatever is produced by choices and intentions is impermanent and liable to cessation.’ Knowing and seeing like this, their mind is freed from the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed.

mn121:11.8They understand: ‘Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.’

---

mn121:12.1They understand: ‘Here there is no stress due to the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, or ignorance. There is only this modicum of stress, namely that related to the six sense fields dependent on this body and conditioned by life.’ They understand: ‘This field of perception is empty of the perception of the defilements of sensuality, desire to be reborn, and ignorance.The “field of perception” (saññāgataṁ) is the scope of awareness. There is only this that is not emptiness, namely that related to the six sense fields dependent on this body and conditioned by life.’ And so they regard it as empty of what is not there, but as to what remains they understand that it is present. That’s how emptiness manifests in them—genuine, undistorted, pure, and supreme.

mn121:13.1Whatever ascetics and brahmins enter and remain in the pure, ultimate, supreme emptiness—whether in the past, future, or present—all of them enter and remain in this same pure, ultimate, supreme emptiness.Here the emptiness is distinguished as “supreme” (anuttara). In early Pali, Nibbāna is not described as either empty or as not-self, as these are properties of the path. This passage is probably the closest we get to that, but even this is relative, since the body and life persist. So, Ānanda, you should train like this: ‘We will enter and remain in the pure, ultimate, supreme emptiness.’ That’s how you should train.”

mn121:13.6That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, Venerable Ānanda approved what the Buddha said.

1Evaṁ me sutaṁ — ​ ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati pubbārāme migāramātupāsāde.

Atha kho āyasmā ānando sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

2"Ekamidaṁ, bhante, samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati nagarakaṁ nāma sakyānaṁ nigamo. Tattha me, bhante, bhagavato sammukhā sutaṁ, sammukhā paṭiggahitaṁ: ‘suññatāvihārenāhaṁ, ānanda, etarahi bahulaṁ viharāmī’ti. Kacci metaṁ, bhante, sussutaṁ suggahitaṁ sumanasikataṁ sūpadhāritan"ti?

3"Taggha te etaṁ, ānanda, sussutaṁ suggahitaṁ sumanasikataṁ sūpadhāritaṁ. Pubbepāhaṁ, ānanda, etarahipi suññatāvihārena bahulaṁ viharāmi.

Seyyathāpi, ānanda, ayaṁ migāramātupāsādo suñño hatthigavassavaḷavena, suñño jātarūparajatena, suñño itthipurisasannipātena atthi cevidaṁ asuññataṁ yadidaṁ — bhikkhusaṁghaṁ paṭicca ekattaṁ; evameva kho, ānanda, bhikkhu amanasikaritvā gāmasaññaṁ, amanasikaritvā manussasaññaṁ, araññasaññaṁ paṭicca manasi karoti ekattaṁ. Tassa araññasaññāya cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati. So evaṁ pajānāti: ‘ye assu darathā gāmasaññaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, ye assu darathā manussasaññaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, atthi cevāyaṁ darathamattā yadidaṁ — araññasaññaṁ paṭicca ekattan’ti. So ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ gāmasaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ manussasaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘atthi cevidaṁ asuññataṁ yadidaṁ — araññasaññaṁ paṭicca ekattan’ti. Iti yañhi kho tattha na hoti tena taṁ suññaṁ samanupassati, yaṁ pana tattha avasiṭṭhaṁ hoti taṁ ‘santamidaṁ atthī’ti pajānāti. Evampissa esā, ānanda, yathābhuccā avipallatthā parisuddhā suññatāvakkanti bhavati.

4Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, bhikkhu amanasikaritvā manussasaññaṁ, amanasikaritvā araññasaññaṁ, pathavīsaññaṁ paṭicca manasi karoti ekattaṁ. Tassa pathavīsaññāya cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati. Seyyathāpi, ānanda, āsabhacammaṁ saṅkusatena suvihataṁ vigatavalikaṁ; evameva kho, ānanda, bhikkhu yaṁ imissā pathaviyā ukkūlavikkūlaṁ nadīviduggaṁ khāṇukaṇṭakaṭṭhānaṁ pabbatavisamaṁ taṁ sabbaṁ amanasikaritvā pathavīsaññaṁ paṭicca manasi karoti ekattaṁ. Tassa pathavīsaññāya cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati. So evaṁ pajānāti: ‘ye assu darathā manussasaññaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, ye assu darathā araññasaññaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, atthi cevāyaṁ darathamattā yadidaṁ — pathavīsaññaṁ paṭicca ekattan’ti. So ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ manussasaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ araññasaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘atthi cevidaṁ asuññataṁ yadidaṁ — pathavīsaññaṁ paṭicca ekattan’ti. Iti yañhi kho tattha na hoti tena taṁ suññaṁ samanupassati, yaṁ pana tattha avasiṭṭhaṁ hoti taṁ ‘santamidaṁ atthī’ti pajānāti. Evampissa esā, ānanda, yathābhuccā avipallatthā parisuddhā suññatāvakkanti bhavati.

5Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, bhikkhu amanasikaritvā araññasaññaṁ, amanasikaritvā pathavīsaññaṁ, ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca manasi karoti ekattaṁ. Tassa ākāsānañcāyatanasaññāya cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati. So evaṁ pajānāti: ‘ye assu darathā araññasaññaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, ye assu darathā pathavīsaññaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, atthi cevāyaṁ darathamattā yadidaṁ — ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca ekattan’ti. So ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ araññasaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ pathavīsaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘atthi cevidaṁ asuññataṁ yadidaṁ — ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca ekattan’ti. Iti yañhi kho tattha na hoti tena taṁ suññaṁ samanupassati, yaṁ pana tattha avasiṭṭhaṁ hoti taṁ ‘santamidaṁ atthī’ti pajānāti. Evampissa esā, ānanda, yathābhuccā avipallatthā parisuddhā suññatāvakkanti bhavati.

6Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, bhikkhu amanasikaritvā pathavīsaññaṁ, amanasikaritvā ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ, viññāṇañcāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca manasi karoti ekattaṁ. Tassa viññāṇañcāyatanasaññāya cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati. So evaṁ pajānāti: ‘ye assu darathā pathavīsaññaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, ye assu darathā ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, atthi cevāyaṁ darathamattā yadidaṁ — viññāṇañcāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca ekattan’ti. So ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ pathavīsaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ ākāsānañcāyatanasaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘atthi cevidaṁ asuññataṁ yadidaṁ — viññāṇañcāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca ekattan’ti. Iti yañhi kho tattha na hoti tena taṁ suññaṁ samanupassati, yaṁ pana tattha avasiṭṭhaṁ hoti taṁ ‘santamidaṁ atthī’ti pajānāti. Evampissa esā, ānanda, yathābhuccā avipallatthā parisuddhā suññatāvakkanti bhavati.

7Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, bhikkhu amanasikaritvā ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ, amanasikaritvā viññāṇañcāyatanasaññaṁ, ākiñcaññāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca manasi karoti ekattaṁ. Tassa ākiñcaññāyatanasaññāya cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati. So evaṁ pajānāti: ‘ye assu darathā ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, ye assu darathā viññāṇañcāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, atthi cevāyaṁ darathamattā yadidaṁ — ākiñcaññāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca ekattan’ti. So ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ ākāsānañcāyatanasaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ viññāṇañcāyatanasaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘atthi cevidaṁ asuññataṁ yadidaṁ — ākiñcaññāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca ekattan’ti. Iti yañhi kho tattha na hoti tena taṁ suññaṁ samanupassati, yaṁ pana tattha avasiṭṭhaṁ hoti taṁ ‘santamidaṁ atthī’ti pajānāti. Evampissa esā, ānanda, yathābhuccā avipallatthā parisuddhā suññatāvakkanti bhavati.

8Puna caparaṁ, ānanda bhikkhu amanasikaritvā viññāṇañcāyatanasaññaṁ, amanasikaritvā ākiñcaññāyatanasaññaṁ, nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca manasi karoti ekattaṁ. Tassa nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññāya cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati. So evaṁ pajānāti: ‘ye assu darathā viññāṇañcāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, ye assu darathā ākiñcaññāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, atthi cevāyaṁ darathamattā yadidaṁ — nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca ekattan’ti. So ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ viññāṇañcāyatanasaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ ākiñcaññāyatanasaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘atthi cevidaṁ asuññataṁ yadidaṁ — nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca ekattan’ti. Iti yañhi kho tattha na hoti tena taṁ suññaṁ samanupassati, yaṁ pana tattha avasiṭṭhaṁ hoti taṁ ‘santamidaṁ atthī’ti pajānāti. Evampissa esā, ānanda, yathābhuccā avipallatthā parisuddhā suññatāvakkanti bhavati.

9Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, bhikkhu amanasikaritvā ākiñcaññāyatanasaññaṁ, amanasikaritvā nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññaṁ, animittaṁ cetosamādhiṁ paṭicca manasi karoti ekattaṁ. Tassa animitte cetosamādhimhi cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati. So evaṁ pajānāti: ‘ye assu darathā ākiñcaññāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, ye assu darathā nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, atthi cevāyaṁ darathamattā yadidaṁ — imameva kāyaṁ paṭicca saḷāyatanikaṁ jīvitapaccayā’ti. So ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ ākiñcaññāyatanasaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘atthi cevidaṁ asuññataṁ yadidaṁ — imameva kāyaṁ paṭicca saḷāyatanikaṁ jīvitapaccayā’ti. Iti yañhi kho tattha na hoti tena taṁ suññaṁ samanupassati, yaṁ pana tattha avasiṭṭhaṁ hoti taṁ ‘santamidaṁ atthī’ti pajānāti. Evampissa esā, ānanda, yathābhuccā avipallatthā parisuddhā suññatāvakkanti bhavati.

10Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, bhikkhu amanasikaritvā ākiñcaññāyatanasaññaṁ, amanasikaritvā nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññaṁ, animittaṁ cetosamādhiṁ paṭicca manasi karoti ekattaṁ. Tassa animitte cetosamādhimhi cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati. So evaṁ pajānāti: ‘ayampi kho animitto cetosamādhi abhisaṅkhato abhisañcetayito’. ‘Yaṁ kho pana kiñci abhisaṅkhataṁ abhisañcetayitaṁ tadaniccaṁ nirodhadhamman’ti pajānāti. Tassa evaṁ jānato evaṁ passato kāmāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccati, bhavāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccati, avijjāsavāpi cittaṁ vimuccati. Vimuttasmiṁ vimuttamiti ñāṇaṁ hoti.

‘Khīṇā jāti, vusitaṁ brahmacariyaṁ, kataṁ karaṇīyaṁ, nāparaṁ itthattāyā’ti pajānāti.

---

So evaṁ pajānāti: ‘ye assu darathā kāmāsavaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, ye assu darathā bhavāsavaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, ye assu darathā avijjāsavaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, atthi cevāyaṁ darathamattā yadidaṁ — imameva kāyaṁ paṭicca saḷāyatanikaṁ jīvitapaccayā’ti. So ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ kāmāsavenā’ti pajānāti, ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ bhavāsavenā’ti pajānāti, ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ avijjāsavenā’ti pajānāti, ‘atthi cevidaṁ asuññataṁ yadidaṁ — imameva kāyaṁ paṭicca saḷāyatanikaṁ jīvitapaccayā’ti. Iti yañhi kho tattha na hoti tena taṁ suññaṁ samanupassati, yaṁ pana tattha avasiṭṭhaṁ hoti taṁ ‘santamidaṁ atthī’ti pajānāti. Evampissa esā, ānanda, yathābhuccā avipallatthā parisuddhā paramānuttarā suññatāvakkanti bhavati.

11Yepi hi keci, ānanda, atītamaddhānaṁ samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā parisuddhaṁ paramānuttaraṁ suññataṁ upasampajja vihariṁsu, sabbe te imaṁyeva parisuddhaṁ paramānuttaraṁ suññataṁ upasampajja vihariṁsu. Yepi hi keci, ānanda, anāgatamaddhānaṁ samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā parisuddhaṁ paramānuttaraṁ suññataṁ upasampajja viharissanti, sabbe te imaṁyeva parisuddhaṁ paramānuttaraṁ suññataṁ upasampajja viharissanti. Yepi hi keci, ānanda, etarahi samaṇā vā brāhmaṇā vā parisuddhaṁ paramānuttaraṁ suññataṁ upasampajja viharanti, sabbe te imaṁyeva parisuddhaṁ paramānuttaraṁ suññataṁ upasampajja viharanti. Tasmātiha, ānanda, ‘Parisuddhaṁ paramānuttaraṁ suññataṁ upasampajja viharissāmā’ti — evañhi vo, ānanda, sikkhitabban"ti.

12Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamano āyasmā ānando bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti.

Cūḷasuññatasuttaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ paṭhamaṁ.