Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

114Vimuttimaggaperceptions of diversity, thinking, 'Infinite is space', enters into and abidesin the sphere of infinite space. 1"Entirely" means without remainder. "By passing beyond perceptionof form": What is perception of form? The perception, the perceiving,the state of having perceived pertaining to one who dwells in the concentrationof the form-element — these are called perception of form. "Passing beyond"means the surpassing of this. [421] "By the disappearance of the perceptionof impact": What is the perception of impact? The perception of visibleobjects, of sounds, of odours, of flavours, and of tangibles — these are calledthe perception of impact. "Disappearance" means the ending of these variouskinds of (impact-) perception. "By being freed from attention to perceptionsof diversity": What are perceptions of diversity? The perception, theperceiving, the state of having perceived pertaining to one who has not attainedto concentration and who is endowed with the mind element and the consciousnesselement — these are called perceptions of diversity. "Freed fromattention to perceptions of diversity" means that one is freed from attendingto these perceptions of diversity.Q. Why is it that only the surpassing of perception is taught and notthe surpassing of feeling, formations and consciousness ?A. If a man passes beyond perception of form, he passes beyond allthe others; and if a man is not freed from perception of form, his mind isnot capable of passing beyond the others. Hence the Blessed One taught thesurpassing of perception of form with the intention of setting forth the surpassingof all form-objects, because all (form) objects of concentration are dependenton perception.Q. If that does not happen (i.e., if he does not transcend the perceptionof form) is there or is there not perception of impact and diversity?A. There is the perception of impact and diversity in form concentration,because these are removed (later).Q. Why does he not proceed further in that concentration?A. He dislikes form, therefore, he does not remove (these perceptions)in that (concentration). This is according to the teaching of the Buddhawhich says that, owing to the non-removal of these (perceptions of impact)in that (form concentration), sound is a thorn to one entering the first meditation,jhana. 2 Thus disliking form, he goes further. He destroys them here.Therefore, he attains to the imperturbability of the formless attainment andthe peacefulness of liberation. Alaia Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputta whenthey entered the formless attainment, did not see nor hear those five hundred1. D. I, 183: Puna ca param Potfhapdda bhikkhu sabbaso rupasahndnam samatikkamdpatigha-sannanam atthagamd ndnatta-sahndnam amanasi-kdrd "ananto dkdso Tl" dkdsdnancdyatanamupasampajja viharati.2. A. V, 134—5: Pafhamassa jhanassa saddo kanfako.