[Zapper]

So I was reading this sutta AN 9.41: Tapussasutta—Bhikkhu Sujato

and it is said “And so, going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, I entered and remained in the cessation of perception and feeling. And, having seen with wisdom, my defilements were ended.”

It seems like this is nibbana, however it is also said “when I had entered into and withdrawn from these nine progressive meditative attainments in both forward and reverse order, I announced my supreme perfect awakening in this world”

This means Buddha said that he entered and withdrew the 9 attainments. However, does that also mean that he withdrew from the 9th one, or is that the one that is final? (meaning he didn’t withdraw from the 9th jhana; thus, it is Nibbana.)

[Lal]

1. I revised the link in Zapper’s comment to point to the verse he quoted: “And so, going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, I entered and remained in the cessation of perception and feeling. And, having seen with wisdom, my defilements were ended.”

• In Pali: “So kho ahaṁ, ānanda, sabbaso nevasaññānāsaññāyatanaṁ samatikkamma saññāvedayitanirodhaṁ upasampajja viharāmi, paññāya ca me disvā āsavā parikkhayaṁ agamaṁsu.”

2. At the Arahanthood, a mind completely separates from various “distorted saññā” associated with the world of 31 realms.

• That process of overcoming the “distorted saññā” associated with all three lokas (kama, rupa, arupa) happens stepwise for an ubhatovimutti Arahants; Buddha attained the Buddhahood that way, too.
• Once overcoming the “kama saññā” (triggering the mind-made “sensual pleasure” perception) associated with the kama loka, one gets to the Anagami stage. Then one must overcome the “rupa saññā” (triggering the mind-made “jhanic pleasure” perception) associated with the rupa loka (there are four jhanic states discussed in the suttas). Then, one must overcome the “arupa saññā” (triggering the mind-made “arupa samapatti pleasure” perception) associated with the arupa loka (there are four arupa samapatti states discussed in the suttas). Thus, there are eight jhanic/samapatti states with the last one being “nevasaññānāsaññāyatana” (dimension of neither perception nor non-perception). In that state, the “distorted saññā” is so weak that it almost goes away, but because the arupa raga samyojana still remains intact, it comes back. 
• In the final step, that arupa raga samyojana is overcome too, and the mind is fully released. That is the ninth state referred to: saññāvedayitanirodha or cessation of perception and feeling. Here “saññāvedayitanirodha”is “saññā avedayita nirodha” meaning one would be released from the (distorted) saññā associated with that last (eighth) samapatti state of nevasaññānāsaññāyatana.

3. Thus, the battle for Nibbana involves overcoming the “distorted saññā” associated with all three lokas (kama, rupa, arupa).

• A pannavimutti Arahant gets there without going through the stepwise process. 
• For example, Ven. Bahiya may have arrived at Nibbana directly from the kama loka without cultivating rupa jhana or arupa samapatti. That certainly seems to be the case for Minister Santati, who had just returned from a battle. They were both pannavimutti Arahants.
• Some may have attained Nibbana (Arahanthood) via a low-lying specific jhana or a samapatti. 
• One would be an ubhatovimutti Arahant only if one goes through all the nine steps. 

Thanks to Zapper for pointing out this sutta!

2 users thanked author for this post.

Zapper, taryal

[Lal]

The difference between rupa jhana (corresponding to the mental states of rupa loka Brahmas) and arupa samapatti (corresponding to the mental states of arupa loka Brahmas) is pointed out in #5 of “Samādhi, Jhāna, Magga Phala – Introduction.”

• It must be clear that there is no 9th jhanic/samapatti state per Zapper’s question. 
• Once one transcends the fourth arupa samapatti, one attains Arahanthood.
• Ancient anariya yogis (including Uddaka Ramaputta mentioned in the Tipitaka) were able to proceed all the way to the highest arupa sampatti (nevasaññānāsaññāyatana). But they could not transcend that (and to separate from the world, i.e., get to Arahanthood) because all of their samyojana (sansaric bonds) remained intact. To break those ten samyojana one must comprehend the Four Noble Truths/Paticca Samuppada/Tilakkhana. As explained in many posts,  it is a stepwise process for a puthujjana (via Sotapanna, Sakadagami, Anagami, Arahant).
• Our Bodhisatta achieved that during the night of his Enlightenment (and became a Buddha).

• This reply was modified 1 week ago by Lal.

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