Saṁyutta Nikāya — Discursos Conectados — 40.8 — A Question About the Dimension of Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception

1“They speak of this thing called the ‘dimension of neither perception nor non-perception’. What is the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception? It occurred to me: ‘It’s when a mendicant, going totally beyond the dimension of nothingness, enters and remains in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. This is called the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.’

2And so … I was entering and remaining in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. While I was in that meditation, perception and focus accompanied by the dimension of nothingness beset me.

3Then the Buddha came up to me with his psychic power and said, ‘Moggallāna, Moggallāna! Don’t neglect the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, brahmin! Settle your mind in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception; unify your mind and immerse it in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.’

4And so, after some time … I entered and remained in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception.

5So if anyone should be rightly called a disciple who attained to great direct knowledge with help from the Teacher, it’s me.”