Untitled in the source — Rāgapeyyāla — the tenth chapter of the Nines, continued
Setting
None stated in the source
Speakers
The Buddha alone, addressing the mendicants
Form
A bare nine-item list, the familiar nine progressive attainments, now framed as insight into greed
Length
~30 seconds to read
This nipāta's second foundational set
Where AN 9.93 gave the nine perceptions, this discourse gives the nine meditative attainments — the second and last of the two sets this closing peyyāla will multiply against verbs
Difficulty
★★☆☆☆ — brief, the most familiar list in this entire nipāta reappearing one final time
Why this discourse
For insight into greed, nine things should be developed: the first absorption, the second, third, and fourth absorptions, the dimensions of infinite space, infinite consciousness, and nothingness, the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, and the cessation of perception and feeling — the nine progressive attainments that have structured most of this nipāta, now closing it.
Reading guide
The teaching in one sentence
For insight into greed, nine things should be developed: the four absorptions, the four formless dimensions, and the cessation of perception and feeling — the same nine progressive attainments already met repeatedly throughout this nipāta.
The most reused list in the entire nipāta, closing it
No list in this project has been named more times under more different framings than these nine attainments: bare meditations at AN 9.32, elaborated formulas at AN 9.33, an affliction-test at AN 9.34, a gradualist simile at AN 9.35, an insight-basis at AN 9.36, abodes at AN 9.24, cessations at AN 9.31, and ten further framings across ch.5 and ch.6. This discourse gives it a final appearance, as the second foundational set this closing peyyāla will multiply against verbs.
Untitled, matching AN 9.93 exactly
As at AN 9.93, this discourse carries no title in the source at all, marked only with the bare ‘~’ — the second of this peyyāla's two untitled opening discourses, matching the precedent already met at AN 8.118-120.
Two sets now established, ready for multiplication
With this discourse, both of this closing peyyāla's foundational sets are in place: nine perceptions (AN 9.93) and nine meditative attainments (AN 9.94). AN 9.95-112, immediately next, crosses both sets against nine verbs of ending, still concerning greed alone, before AN 9.113-432 scales the same multiplication up to the remaining sixteen defilements and closes the entire nipāta.
Key terms
rāgassa abhiññāya nava dhammā bhāvetabbā — “for insight into greed, nine things should be developed” — the identical opening formula shared with AN 9.93.
paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ, dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ, tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ, catutthaṁ jhānaṁ — “the first, second, third, and fourth absorptions” — the first four of the nine, identical to every other listing of this sequence in this nipāta.
ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ, viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ, ākiñcaññāyatanaṁ — “the dimensions of infinite space, infinite consciousness, and nothingness” — the three lower formless dimensions, closing the list's middle stretch.
saññāvedayitanirodho — “the cessation of perception and feeling” — the ninth and final attainment, this list's own closing item as at every prior appearance in this nipāta.
~ — the source's own bare marker where this discourse's title would normally stand, matching AN 9.93 exactly.
The text
The discourse in full: the nine progressive attainments, for insight into greed. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).
Nine attainments, for insight into greed
§1“For insight into greed, nine things should be developed. What nine? The first absorption, the second absorption, the third absorption, the fourth absorption, the dimension of infinite space, the dimension of infinite consciousness, the dimension of nothingness, the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, and the cessation of perception and feeling.
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Self-check quiz
6 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.
Question 1 of 6
What nine things does this discourse say should be developed for insight into greed?
Correct: B. The nine progressive attainments already met repeatedly throughout this nipāta.
Question 2 of 6
According to the guide, how many different framings has this nine-item list already appeared under earlier in this nipāta?
Correct: B. The most reused list in the entire nipāta, closing it here one final time.
Question 3 of 6
What does this discourse share exactly with AN 9.93?
Correct: B. Both discourses in this peyyāla's opening pair lack any title at all.
Question 4 of 6
What role do AN 9.93 and AN 9.94 together play in this closing peyyāla?
Correct: B. The two building blocks AN 9.95-112 and AN 9.113-432 will cross against verbs.
Question 5 of 6
What happens at AN 9.95-112, immediately following this discourse?
Correct: B. The first stage of this peyyāla's multiplication mechanism.
Question 6 of 6
Is a setting given for this discourse?
Correct: C. A bare formula, matching AN 9.93 immediately before it.
