Saṁyutta Nikāya 14.11 2.

Sattadhātusutta

Dutiyavagga Sattadhātusutta Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.

He was staying at Sāvatthī.

“Sattimā, bhikkhave, dhātuyo.

Disciples, there are seven elements.

Katamā satta?

What seven?

Ābhādhātu, subhadhātu, ākāsānañcāyatanadhātu, viññāṇañcāyatanadhātu, ākiñcaññāyatanadhātu, nevasaññānāsaññāyatanadhātu, saññāvedayitanirodhadhātu— imā kho, bhikkhave, satta dhātuyo”ti. Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca: “yā cāyaṁ, bhante, ābhādhātu yā ca subhadhātu yā ca ākāsānañcāyatanadhātu yā ca viññāṇañcāyatanadhātu yā ca ākiñcaññāyatanadhātu yā ca nevasaññānāsaññāyatanadhātu yā ca saññāvedayitanirodhadhātu—imā nu kho, bhante, dhātuyo kiṁ paṭicca paññāyantī”ti?

The element of radiance, the element of beauty, the element of the realm of infinite space, the element of the realm of infinite consciousness, the element of the realm of nothingness, the element of the realm of neither perception nor non-perception, the element of the cessation of perception and feeling: these are the seven elements.

When this was said, a certain disciple asked the Blessed One: Sir, these elements of radiance, beauty, the realm of infinite space, the realm of infinite consciousness, the realm of nothingness, the realm of neither perception nor non-perception, and the cessation of perception and feeling: on what are these elements dependent?

“Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, ābhādhātu—ayaṁ dhātu andhakāraṁ paṭicca paññāyati.

Disciple, the element of radiance is dependent on darkness.

Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, subhadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu asubhaṁ paṭicca paññāyati.

The element of beauty is dependent on the unattractive.

Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, ākāsānañcāyatanadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu rūpaṁ paṭicca paññāyati.

The element of the realm of infinite space is dependent on form.

Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, viññāṇañcāyatanadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ paṭicca paññāyati.

The element of the realm of infinite consciousness is dependent on the realm of infinite space.

Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, ākiñcaññāyatanadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ paṭicca paññāyati.

The element of the realm of nothingness is dependent on the realm of infinite consciousness.

Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, nevasaññānāsaññāyatanadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ paṭicca paññāyati.

The element of the realm of neither perception nor non-perception is dependent on the realm of nothingness.

Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, saññāvedayitanirodhadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu nirodhaṁ paṭicca paññāyatī”ti.

The element of the cessation of perception and feeling is dependent on cessation.

“Yā cāyaṁ, bhante, ābhādhātu yā ca subhadhātu yā ca ākāsānañcāyatanadhātu yā ca viññāṇañcāyatanadhātu yā ca ākiñcaññāyatanadhātu yā ca nevasaññānāsaññāyatanadhātu yā ca saññāvedayitanirodhadhātu—imā nu kho, bhante, dhātuyo kathaṁ samāpatti pattabbā”ti?

Sir, these elements of radiance, beauty, the realm of infinite space, the realm of infinite consciousness, the realm of nothingness, the realm of neither perception nor non-perception, and the cessation of perception and feeling: how are these elements to be attained?

“Yā cāyaṁ, bhikkhu, ābhādhātu yā ca subhadhātu yā ca ākāsānañcāyatanadhātu yā ca viññāṇañcāyatanadhātu yā ca ākiñcaññāyatanadhātu—imā dhātuyo saññāsamāpatti pattabbā.

Disciple, the elements of radiance, beauty, the realm of infinite space, the realm of infinite consciousness, and the realm of nothingness are to be attained through the stilling of perception.

Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, nevasaññānāsaññāyatanadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu saṅkhārāvasesasamāpatti pattabbā.

The element of the realm of neither perception nor non-perception is to be attained through the stilling of the residue of formations.

Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, saññāvedayitanirodhadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu nirodhasamāpatti pattabbā”ti. Paṭhamaṁ.

The element of the cessation of perception and feeling is to be attained through the attainment of cessation.