AN 9.31 - Anupubbanirodha Sutta: Step-by-step Stopping
Translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Source: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an09/an09.031.than.html
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Copyright: ©2011 Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
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Attribution: ©2011 Thanissaro Bhikkhu. The text of this page ("Anupubbanirodha Sutta: Step-by-step Stopping", by Thanissaro Bhikkhu) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. To view a copy of the license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. Documents linked from this page may be subject to other restrictions. Transcribed from a file provided by the translator. Last revised for Access to Insight on 21 April 2011. How to cite this document (a suggested style): "Anupubbanirodha Sutta: Step-by-step Stopping" (AN 9.31), translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight (BCBS Edition), 21 April 2011, https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an09/an09.031.than.html .
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"Monks, there are these nine step-by-step stoppings. Which nine?

"When one has attained the first jhāna, the perception of sensuality has been stopped. When one has attained the second jhāna, directed thoughts & evaluations [verbal fabrications] have been stopped. When one has attained the third jhāna, rapture has been stopped. When one has attained the fourth jhāna, in-and-out breaths [bodily fabrications] have been stopped. When one has attained the dimension of the infinitude of space, the perception of forms has been stopped. When one has attained the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness, the perception of the dimension of the infinitude of space has been stopped. When one has attained the dimension of nothingness, the perception of the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness has been stopped. When one has attained the dimension of neither-perception nor non-perception, the perception of the dimension of nothingness has been stopped. When one has attained the cessation of perception & feeling, perceptions & feelings [mental fabrications] have been stopped.

"These are the nine step-by-step stoppings."

See also: SN 36.11