Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

120 Vimuttimaggaperception will be reborn, after his death, in the sphere of neither perceptionnor non-perception. His life-span will be eighty-four thousand aeons. 1Q. Why is this called "sphere of neither perception nor non-perception",and not "sphere of the infinity of consciousness" ?A. He separates from the attachment to infinitude and causes the arisingof subtle perception. Therefore, he does not attain to the sphere of the infinityof consciousness.Q. Why are the cankers not destroyed through this concentration?A. If a man separates himself from gross perception, he will not be ableto see the Path. And again this concentration is exceedingly fine. So hecannot discern the nature of neither perception nor non-perception. Thereforehe is not able to destroy the cankers.(The exposition of the) sphere of neither perception nor non-perceptionhas ended.MISCELLANEOUS TEACHINGSI further elucidate the meaning of the above.Q. What are the miscellaneous teachings in the field of concentration?A. Stoppage of sounds; overturning; rising; transcending; access; initialapplication of thought; feeling; uncertainty. "Stoppage of sounds": Inthe first meditation, jhana, speech is stopped. On entering the fourth meditation,jhana, the yogin stops breathing. 2 Gradual stoppage of sounds: Whenthe yogin enters into concentration, he hears sounds, but he is not able to speakbecause the faculty of hearing and that of speech are not united. To a manwho enters form concentration, sound is disturbing. Hence the Buddha taught:"To a man who enters meditation, jhana, sound is a thorn". 3 "Overturning": 4A man, concentrating on the earth kasina develops earth perception throughnon-earth perception.Q. If that be so, does he not fulfil "overturning" ?A. This earth perception should be known as that perception. It differsfrom the four kinds of overturning of perception. Therefore, it does notfulfil "overturning". 5 "Rising": 6 The rising from concentration is conditioned1. Vbh. 426: Neva-sahnd-ndsafihdyatanupagdnam devdnam kittakath dyuppamdnam ? Caturdsitikappasahassdni.2. D. Ill, 266: Catutthajjhanam samdpannassa assdsa-passdsd niruddhd honti.3. A. V, 134—5: Saddakanfakd hi bhikkhave jhand vuttd may a Pafhamassa jhanassasaddo kanfako.4. Vipalldsa.5. This is after Prof. Higata. But the text is as follows: "It does not differ from the fourkinds of overturning of perception. Therefore it does not fulfil overturning".6. Vufthdna.