Saṁyutta Nikāya 40.9 1.

The Discourse on the Signless Concentration

Moggallānavagga Animittapañhāsutta “‘Animitto cetosamādhi, animitto cetosamādhī’ti vuccati.

Signless concentration of mind, signless concentration of mind, it is said.

Katamo nu kho animitto cetosamādhīti?

But what, indeed, is signless concentration of mind?

Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, etadahosi: ‘idha bhikkhu sabbanimittānaṁ amanasikārā animittaṁ cetosamādhiṁ upasampajja viharati.

It occurred to me, friends, here, a disciple, disregarding all signs, enters and dwells in signless concentration of mind.

Ayaṁ vuccati animitto cetosamādhī’ti.

This is called signless concentration of mind.

So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, sabbanimittānaṁ amanasikārā animittaṁ cetosamādhiṁ upasampajja viharāmi.

Thus, friends, disregarding all signs, I entered and dwelled in signless concentration of mind.

Tassa mayhaṁ, āvuso, iminā vihārena viharato nimittānusāri viññāṇaṁ hoti.

While I was dwelling in this way, my consciousness followed signs.

Atha kho maṁ, āvuso, bhagavā iddhiyā upasaṅkamitvā etadavoca: ‘moggallāna, moggallāna. Mā, brāhmaṇa, animittaṁ cetosamādhiṁ pamādo, animitte cetosamādhismiṁ cittaṁ saṇṭhapehi, animitte cetosamādhismiṁ cittaṁ ekodiṁ karohi, animitte cetosamādhismiṁ cittaṁ samādahā’ti.

Then, friends, the Blessed One approached me through his psychic power and said, Moggallāna, Moggallāna, do not be negligent with signless concentration of mind. Establish your mind in signless concentration of mind, unify your mind in signless concentration of mind, concentrate your mind in signless concentration of mind.

So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, aparena samayena sabbanimittānaṁ amanasikārā animittaṁ cetosamādhiṁ upasampajja vihāsiṁ.

Thus, friends, at a later time, disregarding all signs, I entered and dwelled in signless concentration of mind.

Yañhi taṁ, āvuso, sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘satthārānuggahito sāvako mahābhiññataṁ patto’ti, mamaṁ taṁ sammā vadamāno vadeyya: ‘satthārānuggahito sāvako mahābhiññataṁ patto’”ti. Navamaṁ.

If, friends, one were to speak rightly, saying, a disciple supported by the teacher has attained great direct knowing, they would rightly speak of me, saying, a disciple supported by the teacher has attained great direct knowing.