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← Aṅguttara Nikāya

Progressive Cessations

AN 9.31 · Anupubbanirodhasutta

Low morning mist above a wide quiet river.

“Mendicants, there are these nine progressive cessations. What nine?

For someone who has attained the first absorption, sensual perceptions have ceased.

For someone who has attained the second absorption, the placing of the mind and keeping it connected have ceased.

For someone who has attained the third absorption, rapture has ceased.

For someone who has attained the fourth absorption, breathing has ceased.

For someone who has attained the dimension of infinite space, the perception of form has ceased.

For someone who has attained the dimension of infinite consciousness, the perception of the dimension of infinite space has ceased.

For someone who has attained the dimension of nothingness, the perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness has ceased.

For someone who has attained the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, the perception of the dimension of nothingness has ceased.

For someone who has attained the cessation of perception and feeling, perception and feeling have ceased.

These are the nine progressive cessations.”

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Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato · SuttaCentral · CC0

This translation is an expression of an ancient spiritual text that has been passed down by the Buddhist tradition for the benefit of all sentient beings. It is dedicated to the public domain via Creative Commons Zero (CC0). You are encouraged to copy, reproduce, adapt, alter, or otherwise make use of this translation. The translator respectfully requests that any use be in accordance with the values and principles of the Buddhist community. In particular, please do not use this work in AI training datasets, for the development of any AI model or algorithm, or in any AI-derived technologies.

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The opening image is AI-generated nature artwork for Buddhist Atlas, an evocative companion rather than a historical depiction.