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Saṃyutta Nikāya · Discourse 40.6

A Question About the Dimension of Infinite Consciousness

Viññāṇañcāyatanapañhāsutta — Moggallānavagga

Setting
Not restated; continues directly as Moggallāna's own account from SN 40.1's own setting
Speakers
Venerable Mahāmoggallāna addressing the mendicants
Form
The identical template, applied to the second formless dimension
Length
<1 minute to read
Northern parallel
A rough counterpart may exist in the Chinese Saṃyukta-āgama (T99), though this reading guide does not assert a specific matching sutra number
Difficulty
★★☆☆☆ — the pattern's residue now points to a formless dimension rather than a jhāna factor

Why this discourse

The dimension of infinite consciousness — going entirely beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware only that “consciousness is infinite” — is disturbed by leftover perceptions of the dimension of infinite space itself, the immediately preceding attainment. This is the first discourse in the sequence where the residue is itself a named formless dimension rather than a jhāna factor like rapture or pleasure — the same underlying pattern, expressed in the formless dimensions' own vocabulary.

Reading guide

The residue is now a dimension, not a factor

Where SN 40.1–5's own residues were named jhāna factors (sensuality, placing the mind, rapture, pleasure, form), this discourse's own residue is the entire preceding formless dimension itself — the same underlying pattern (haunted by exactly what the current attainment goes beyond), now expressed in the formless dimensions' own terms.

Key terms

viññāṇañcāyatanaṁ — “the dimension of infinite consciousness” — defined by going entirely beyond the dimension of infinite space
ākāsānañcāyatanasahagatā saññāmanasikārā — “perception and focus accompanied by the dimension of infinite space” — the residue disturbing Moggallāna, here itself a named formless dimension rather than a jhāna factor
anantaṁ viññāṇaṁ — “consciousness is infinite” — the awareness this dimension is defined by
cittaṁ saṇṭhapehi, cittaṁ ekodiṁ karohi, cittaṁ samādahā — “settle your mind... unify it... immerse it” — the Buddha's own fixed instruction, unchanged since SN 40.1
chaṭṭhaṁ — “sixth” — this discourse's own untranslated closing ordinal

The text

The complete discourse. Translation: Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0, SuttaCentral).

§1“They speak of this thing called the ‘dimension of infinite consciousness’. What is the dimension of infinite consciousness? It occurred to me: ‘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. This is called the dimension of infinite consciousness.’ And so … I was entering and remaining in the dimension of infinite consciousness. While I was in that meditation, perception and focus accompanied by the dimension of infinite space beset me.

§2Then the Buddha came up to me with his psychic power and said, ‘Moggallāna, Moggallāna! Don’t neglect the dimension of infinite consciousness, brahmin! Settle your mind in the dimension of infinite consciousness; unify your mind and immerse it in the dimension of infinite consciousness.’ And so, after some time … I entered and remained in the dimension of infinite consciousness. So if anyone should be rightly called a disciple who attained to great direct knowledge with help from the Teacher, it’s me.”

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Self-check quiz

2 questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.

Question 1 of 2
What residue disturbs Moggallāna in the dimension of infinite consciousness?
Correct: A. The first discourse where the residue is itself a formless dimension rather than a jhāna factor.
Question 2 of 2
How does this discourse's own residue differ in kind from SN 40.1-5's own residues?
Correct: A. The same haunted-by-what-it-transcends logic, now expressed in the formless dimensions' own vocabulary.
Answered 0 of 2 · Correct 0

Further reading

← PreviousSN 40.5 · A Question About the Dimension of Infinite Space