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The Way to the Beyond

6: Upasãva's Questions

ßAlone, Sakyan, with nothing to depend on, I am unable to cross over the great flood. Please tell me of a support, Visionary One, depending on which I can cross over this flood.ûThe great flood of existence.⁰¹ [94]

ßLooking to nothingness, and being mindful, depending on nothing, cross over the flood.Paraphrase: having developed the sphere of nothingness (àkiÿcaÿÿàyatanaü), emerging and gaining insight into impermanence, cross over the flood.⁰² Having given up sense pleasures, abstaining from talk, day and night you must look for the end of suffering.û [95]

ßHe who is passionless regarding all sense pleasures, who is depending on nothingness, having given up all else, intent on the highest freedom which still has perception - will he remain there without going away?ûHe is asking about the state of the Non-Returner (Anàgàmã) in the âkiÿcaÿÿàyatana Brahmàloka. The next higher state (nevasaÿÿànàsaÿÿàyatanaü) cannot be said to have perception or no perception.⁰³ [96]

ßHe who is passionless regarding all sense pleasures, who is depending on nothingness, having given up all else, intent on the highest freedom which still has perception - he will remain there without going away.ûIt means: will he return to this world?⁰⁴ [97]

ßIf he remains there without going away for a great number of years, Visionary One, will he become cool and free right there, or will the consciousness of such a one fall away?ûThe discussion now turns to the one who has attained Arahatta.⁰⁵ [98]

ßAs a flame overthrown by the force of the wind, goes to rest and can no longer be discerned, just so the sage free from the mental body goes to rest and can no longer be discerned.û [99]

ßThe one who has come to rest, is he then nothing? Or is he eternally healthy?Upasãva is still thinking in terms of annihilation (uccheda) or eternal life (sassata). ⁰⁶ Please explain this to me, Sage, for this Teaching has been understood by you.û [100]

ßThere is no measure of the one who has come to rest, there is nothing by which they can speak of him, when everything has been completely removed, all the pathways for speech are also completely removed.û The Buddha points out that the truth is outside of conditioned reality.⁰⁷[101]