‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ananto ākāsoti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. ‘It’s when a mendicant, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that “space is infinite”, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space. Yattha ākāsānañcāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, ye ca ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti, ‘addhā te āyasmanto nicchātā nibbutā tiṇṇā pāraṅgatā tadaṅgenā’ti vadāmi. Where the perception of the dimension of infinite space ceases, and those who have thoroughly ended the perception of the dimension of infinite space meditate, I say: ‘Clearly those venerables are desireless, extinguished, crossed over, and gone beyond in that respect.’ ‘Kattha ākāsānañcāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, ke ca ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharanti— If someone should say, ‘I do not know or see where the perception of the dimension of infinite space ceases’, ‘idhāvuso, bhikkhu sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma anantaṁ viññāṇanti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. ‘It’s when a mendicant, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that “consciousness is infinite”, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite consciousness. Ettha ākāsānañcāyatanasaññā nirujjhati, te ca ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ nirodhetvā nirodhetvā viharantī’ti. That’s where the perception of the dimension of infinite space ceases.’
ākāsānañcāyatanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, nissāya āsavānaṁ khayaṁ vadāmi; The dimension of infinite space is also a basis for ending the defilements. ‘Ākāsānañcāyatanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, jhānaṁ nissāya āsavānaṁ khayaṁ vadāmī’ti, iti kho panetaṁ vuttaṁ. ‘The dimension of infinite space is also a basis for ending the defilements.’ Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Take a mendicant who, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space. evamevaṁ kho, bhikkhave, bhikkhu sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. In the same way, take a mendicant who enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space. … ‘Ākāsānañcāyatanampāhaṁ, bhikkhave, nissāya āsavānaṁ khayaṁ vadāmī’ti, ‘The dimension of infinite space is a basis for ending the defilements.’
‘yannūnāhaṁ sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā “ananto ākāso”ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja vihareyyan’ti. ‘Why don’t I, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that “space is infinite”, enter and remain in the dimension of infinite space?’ Tassa mayhaṁ, ānanda, ākāsānañcāyatane cittaṁ na pakkhandati nappasīdati na santiṭṭhati na vimuccati etaṁ santanti passato. But my mind wasn’t secure in the dimension of infinite space; it wasn’t confident, settled, and decided about it. I didn’t see it as peaceful. ‘ko nu kho hetu ko paccayo, yena me ākāsānañcāyatane cittaṁ na pakkhandati nappasīdati na santiṭṭhati na vimuccati etaṁ santanti passato’? ‘What is the cause, what is the reason why my mind isn’t secure in the dimension of infinite space, and not confident, settled, and decided about it? Why don’t I see it as peaceful?’ ‘rūpesu kho me ādīnavo adiṭṭho, so ca abahulīkato, ākāsānañcāyatane ca ānisaṁso anadhigato, so ca me anāsevito. ‘I haven’t seen the drawbacks of forms, and so I haven’t cultivated that. I haven’t realized the benefits of the dimension of infinite space, and so I haven’t developed that. Tasmā me ākāsānañcāyatane cittaṁ na pakkhandati nappasīdati na santiṭṭhati na vimuccati etaṁ santanti passato’. That’s why my mind isn’t secure in the dimension of infinite space, and not confident, settled, and decided about it. And it’s why I don’t see it as peaceful.’ ‘sace kho ahaṁ rūpesu ādīnavaṁ disvā taṁ bahulaṁ kareyyaṁ, ākāsānañcāyatane ānisaṁsaṁ adhigamma tamāseveyyaṁ, ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ vijjati yaṁ me ākāsānañcāyatane cittaṁ pakkhandeyya pasīdeyya santiṭṭheyya vimucceyya etaṁ santanti passato’. ‘Suppose that, seeing the drawbacks of forms, I were to cultivate that. And suppose that, realizing the benefits of the dimension of infinite space, I were to develop that. It’s possible that my mind would become secure in the dimension of infinite space; it would be confident, settled, and decided about it. And I would see it as peaceful.’ So kho ahaṁ, ānanda, aparena samayena rūpesu ādīnavaṁ disvā taṁ bahulamakāsiṁ, ākāsānañcāyatane ānisaṁsaṁ adhigamma tamāseviṁ. And so, after some time, I saw the drawbacks of forms and cultivated that, and I realized the benefits of the dimension of infinite space and developed that. Tassa mayhaṁ, ānanda, ākāsānañcāyatane cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati vimuccati etaṁ santanti passato. Then my mind became secure in the dimension of infinite space; it was confident, settled, and decided about it. I saw it as peaceful. So kho ahaṁ, ānanda, sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharāmi. And so, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, I entered and remained in the dimension of infinite space. ‘yannūnāhaṁ sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma “anantaṁ viññāṇan”ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja vihareyyan’ti. ‘Why don’t I, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that “consciousness is infinite”, enter and remain in the dimension of infinite consciousness?’ ‘ākāsānañcāyatane kho me ādīnavo adiṭṭho, so ca abahulīkato, viññāṇañcāyatane ca ānisaṁso anadhigato, so ca me anāsevito. ‘I haven’t seen the drawbacks of the dimension of infinite space, and so I haven’t cultivated that. I haven’t realized the benefits of the dimension of infinite consciousness, and so I haven’t developed that. ‘sace kho ahaṁ ākāsānañcāyatane ādīnavaṁ disvā taṁ bahulaṁ kareyyaṁ, viññāṇañcāyatane ānisaṁsaṁ adhigamma tamāseveyyaṁ, ṭhānaṁ kho panetaṁ vijjati yaṁ me viññāṇañcāyatane cittaṁ pakkhandeyya pasīdeyya santiṭṭheyya vimucceyya etaṁ santanti passato’. ‘Suppose that, seeing the drawbacks of the dimension of infinite space, I were to cultivate that. And suppose that, realizing the benefits of the dimension of infinite consciousness, I were to develop that. It’s possible that my mind would become secure in the dimension of infinite consciousness; it would be confident, settled, and decided about it. And I would see it as peaceful.’ So kho ahaṁ, ānanda, aparena samayena ākāsānañcāyatane ādīnavaṁ disvā taṁ bahulamakāsiṁ, viññāṇañcāyatane ānisaṁsaṁ adhigamma tamāseviṁ. And so, after some time, I saw the drawbacks of the dimension of infinite space and cultivated that, and I realized the benefits of the dimension of infinite consciousness and developed that. So kho ahaṁ, ānanda, sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharāmi. And so, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, I entered and remained in the dimension of infinite consciousness. Tassa mayhaṁ, ānanda, iminā vihārena viharato ākāsānañcāyatanasahagatā saññāmanasikārā samudācaranti. Svassa me hoti ābādho. While I was in that meditation, perceptions accompanied by the dimension of infinite space beset me due to loss of focus, and that was an affliction for me. evamevassa me ākāsānañcāyatanasahagatā saññāmanasikārā samudācaranti. Svassa me hoti ābādho. In the same way, when perceptions accompanied by the dimension of infinite space beset me due to loss of focus, that was an affliction for me.
Idhāvuso, bhikkhu sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. A mendicant, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space. Sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, they enter and remain in the dimension of infinite consciousness. Santāvuso, sattā sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanūpagā. There are sentient beings that have gone totally beyond perceptions of form. With the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, they have been reborn in the dimension of infinite space. Santāvuso, sattā sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanūpagā. There are sentient beings that have gone totally beyond the dimension of infinite space. Aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, they have been reborn in the dimension of infinite consciousness. Sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, they enter and remain in the dimension of infinite space. Sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, they enter and remain in the dimension of infinite consciousness. Santāvuso, sattā sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanūpagā. There are sentient beings that have gone totally beyond perceptions of form. With the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, they have been reborn in the dimension of infinite space. Santāvuso, sattā sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanūpagā. There are sentient beings that have gone totally beyond the dimension of infinite space. Aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, they have been reborn in the dimension of infinite consciousness. Sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā …pe… ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, they enter and remain in the dimension of infinite space. Sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, they enter and remain in the dimension of infinite consciousness. Ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samāpannassa rūpasaññā niruddhā hoti. For someone who has attained the dimension of infinite space, the perception of form has ceased. Viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samāpannassa ākāsānañcāyatanasaññā niruddhā hoti. For someone who has attained the dimension of infinite consciousness, the perception of the dimension of infinite space has ceased.
Santāvuso, sattā sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā …pe… ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanūpagā. There are sentient beings that have gone totally beyond perceptions of form. With the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, they have been reborn in the dimension of infinite space. Santāvuso, sattā sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanūpagā. There are sentient beings that have gone totally beyond the dimension of infinite space. Aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, they have been reborn in the dimension of infinite consciousness. Sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, they enter and remain in the dimension of infinite space. Sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, they enter and remain in the dimension of infinite consciousness. Santāvuso, sattā sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanūpagā. There are sentient beings that have gone totally beyond perceptions of form. With the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, they have been reborn in the dimension of infinite space. Santāvuso, sattā sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanūpagā. There are sentient beings that have gone totally beyond the dimension of infinite space. Aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, they have been reborn in the dimension of infinite consciousness. Sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā …pe… ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, they enter and remain in the dimension of infinite space. Sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, they enter and remain in the dimension of infinite consciousness. ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samāpannassa rūpasaññā niruddhā hoti, For someone who has attained the dimension of infinite space, the perception of form has ceased. viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ samāpannassa ākāsānañcāyatanasaññā niruddhā hoti, For someone who has attained the dimension of infinite consciousness, the perception of the dimension of infinite space has ceased.
Ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ ākāsānañcāyatanato sañjānāti; They perceive the dimension of infinite space as the dimension of infinite space. ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ ākāsānañcāyatanato saññatvā ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ maññati, ākāsānañcāyatanasmiṁ maññati, ākāsānañcāyatanato maññati, ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ meti maññati, ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ abhinandati. Having perceived the dimension of infinite space as the dimension of infinite space, they conceive it to be the dimension of infinite space … ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ … the dimension of infinite space … ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ … the dimension of infinite space … ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ … the dimension of infinite space … ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ … the dimension of infinite space … ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ … the dimension of infinite space … ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ … the dimension of infinite space … ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ … the dimension of infinite space …
Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. Furthermore, take someone who, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space … ‘ahaṁ khomhi ākāsānañcāyatanasamāpattiyā lābhī, ime panaññe bhikkhū ākāsānañcāyatanasamāpattiyā na lābhino’ti. mn113 So tāya ākāsānañcāyatanasamāpattiyā attānukkaṁseti, paraṁ vambheti. mn113 ‘ākāsānañcāyatanasamāpattiyāpi kho atammayatā vuttā bhagavatā. mn113 So atammayataññeva antaraṁ karitvā tāya ākāsānañcāyatanasamāpattiyā nevattānukkaṁseti, na paraṁ vambheti. mn113 Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, asappuriso sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ samatikkamma ‘anantaṁ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. the dimension of infinite consciousness …
Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, bhikkhu amanasikaritvā araññasaññaṁ, amanasikaritvā pathavīsaññaṁ, ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca manasi karoti ekattaṁ. Furthermore, a mendicant—ignoring the perception of wilderness and the perception of earth—focuses on the oneness dependent on the perception of the dimension of infinite space. Tassa ākāsānañcāyatanasaññāya cittaṁ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati. Their mind becomes secure, confident, settled, and decided in that perception of the dimension of infinite space. ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca ekattan’ti. There is only this modicum of stress, namely the oneness dependent on the perception of the dimension of infinite space.’ ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca ekattan’ti. There is only this that is not emptiness, namely the oneness dependent on the perception of the dimension of infinite space.’ Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, bhikkhu amanasikaritvā pathavīsaññaṁ, amanasikaritvā ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ, viññāṇañcāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca manasi karoti ekattaṁ. Furthermore, a mendicant—ignoring the perception of earth and the perception of the dimension of infinite space—focuses on the oneness dependent on the perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness. ‘ye assu darathā pathavīsaññaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, ye assu darathā ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, atthi cevāyaṁ darathamattā yadidaṁ— ‘Here there is no stress due to the perception of earth or the perception of the dimension of infinite space. So ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ pathavīsaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ ākāsānañcāyatanasaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘atthi cevidaṁ asuññataṁ yadidaṁ— They understand: ‘This field of perception is empty of the perception of earth. It is empty of the perception of the dimension of infinite space. Puna caparaṁ, ānanda, bhikkhu amanasikaritvā ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ, amanasikaritvā viññāṇañcāyatanasaññaṁ, ākiñcaññāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca manasi karoti ekattaṁ. Furthermore, a mendicant—ignoring the perception of the dimension of infinite space and the perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness—focuses on the oneness dependent on the perception of the dimension of nothingness. ‘ye assu darathā ākāsānañcāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, ye assu darathā viññāṇañcāyatanasaññaṁ paṭicca tedha na santi, atthi cevāyaṁ darathamattā yadidaṁ— ‘Here there is no stress due to the perception of the dimension of infinite space or the perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness. So ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ ākāsānañcāyatanasaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘suññamidaṁ saññāgataṁ viññāṇañcāyatanasaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘atthi cevidaṁ asuññataṁ yadidaṁ— They understand: ‘This field of perception is empty of the perception of the dimension of infinite space. It is empty of the perception of the dimension of infinite consciousness.
Ābhādhātu, subhadhātu, ākāsānañcāyatanadhātu, viññāṇañcāyatanadhātu, ākiñcaññāyatanadhātu, nevasaññānāsaññāyatanadhātu, saññāvedayitanirodhadhātu— The element of light, the element of beauty, the element of the dimension of infinite space, the element of the dimension of infinite consciousness, the element of the dimension of nothingness, the element of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, and the element of the cessation of perception and feeling. “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? “Sir, due to what does each of these elements appear?” Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, ākāsānañcāyatanadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu rūpaṁ paṭicca paññāyati. The element of the dimension of infinite space appears due to the element of form. Yāyaṁ, bhikkhu, viññāṇañcāyatanadhātu—ayaṁ dhātu ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ paṭicca paññāyati. The element of the dimension of infinite consciousness appears due to the element of the dimension of infinite space. “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, how is each of 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. “The elements of light, beauty, the dimension of infinite space, the dimension of infinite consciousness, and the dimension of nothingness are attainments with perception.
Ākāsānañcāyatanapañhāsutta A Question About the Dimension of Infinite Space Ākāsānañcāyatanapañhāsutta → ākāsaṁ (pts1ed) " “‘Ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ, ākāsānañcāyatanan’ti vuccati. “They speak of this thing called the ‘dimension of infinite space’. Katamaṁ nu kho ākāsānañcāyatananti? What is the dimension of infinite space? ‘idha bhikkhu sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ananto ākāsoti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati. ‘It’s when a mendicant—going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity—aware that “space is infinite”, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space. Idaṁ vuccati ākāsānañcāyatanan’ti. This is called the dimension of infinite space.’ So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ananto ākāsoti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharāmi. And so … I was entering and remaining in the dimension of infinite space. Mā, brāhmaṇa, ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ pamādo, ākāsānañcāyatane cittaṁ saṇṭhapehi, ākāsānañcāyatane cittaṁ ekodiṁ karohi, ākāsānañcāyatane cittaṁ samādahā’ti. Don’t neglect the dimension of infinite space, brahmin! Settle your mind in the dimension of infinite space; unify your mind and immerse it in the dimension of infinite space.’ So khvāhaṁ, āvuso, aparena samayena sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā ananto ākāsoti ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja vihāsiṁ. And so, after some time … I entered and remained in the dimension of infinite space.