an.9.39 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

The Devas (About Jhāna)

“Once, monks, a battle between the devas & asuras was in full swing. And in that battle, the asuras won and the devas lost. Having lost, the devas simply fled while the asuras, heading north, attacked them. Then the thought occurred to the devas, ‘The asuras are still attacking. Why don’t we do battle a second time?’

“So the devas did battle with the asuras a second time. And a second time, the asuras won and the devas lost. Having lost, the devas simply fled while the asuras, heading north, attacked them. Then the thought occurred to the devas, ‘The asuras are still attacking. Why don’t we do battle a third time?’

“So the devas did battle with the asuras a third time. And a third time, the asuras won and the devas lost. Having lost, the devas, afraid, entered the deva capital. Having gone to their capital, the devas thought, ‘Having come to this shelter for the fearful, we will now keep here to ourselves, having nothing to do with the asuras.’ And the asuras also thought, ‘Having gone to this shelter for the fearful, the devas will now keep here to themselves, having nothing to do with us.’

“Once, monks, a battle between the devas & asuras was in full swing. And in that battle, the devas won and the asuras lost. Having lost, the asuras simply fled while the devas, heading south, attacked them. Then the thought occurred to the asura, ‘The devas are still attacking. Why don’t we do battle a second time?’

“So the asuras did battle with the devas a second time. And a second time, the devas won and the asuras lost. Having lost, the asuras simply fled while the devas, heading south, attacked them. Then the thought occurred to the asuras, ‘The devas are still attacking. Why don’t we do battle a third time?’

“So the asuras did battle with the devas a third time. And a third time, the devas won and the asuras lost. Having lost, the asuras, afraid, entered the asura capital. Having gone to their capital, the asuras thought, ‘Having come to this shelter for the fearful, we will now keep here to ourselves, having nothing to do with the devas.’ And the devas also thought, ‘Having gone to this shelter for the fearful, the asuras will now keep here to themselves, having nothing to do with us.’

“In the same way, monks, on whatever occasion a monk—secluded from sensuality, secluded from unskillful qualities—enters the first jhāna: rapture & pleasure born of seclusion, accompanied by directed thought & evaluation, on that occasion the thought occurs to him, ‘Having come to this shelter for the fearful, I will now keep here to myself, having nothing to do with Māra.’ And the thought occurs to Māra, the Evil One, ‘Having gone to this shelter for the fearful, the monk will now keep here to himself, having nothing to do with me.’

[Similarly with the second, third, & fourth jhānas.]

“On whatever occasion a monk, with the complete transcending of perceptions of (physical) form, with the disappearance of perceptions of resistance, and not heeding perceptions of diversity, (perceiving,) ‘Infinite space,’ enters the dimension of the infinitude of space: He is said to be a monk who has put Māra in the dark. Having bound Māra’s eyes and leaving no opening, he has become invisible to the Evil One.

[Similarly with the dimensions of the infinitude of consciousness, nothingness, and neither perception nor non-perception.]

“On whatever occasion, with the complete transcending of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, he enters & remains in the cessation of perception & feeling; and, having seen [that] with discernment, his effluents are completely ended: He is said to be a monk who has put Māra in the dark. Having bound Māra’s eyes and leaving no opening, he has become invisible to the Evil One, having crossed over attachment in the cosmos.”

- Translator: Thanissaro Bhikkhu

- Editor: Gabriel Laera

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The War Between the Gods and the Demons

“Once upon a time, mendicants, a battle was fought between the gods and the demons.
In that battle the demons won and the gods lost.
Defeated, the gods fled north with the demons in pursuit.
Then the gods thought,
‘The demons are still in pursuit.
Why don’t we engage them in battle a second time?’
And so a second battle was fought between the gods and the demons.
And for a second time the demons won and the gods lost.
Defeated, the gods fled north with the demons in pursuit.
Then the gods thought,
‘The demons are still in pursuit.
Why don’t we engage them in battle a third time?’
And so a third battle was fought between the gods and the demons.
And for a third time the demons won and the gods lost.
Defeated and terrified, the gods fled right into the castle of the gods.
When they had entered their castle, they thought,
‘Now we’re in a secure location and the demons can’t do anything to us.’
The demons also thought,
‘Now the gods are in a secure location and we can’t do anything to them.’
Once upon a time, a battle was fought between the gods and the demons.
In that battle the gods won and the demons lost.
Defeated, the demons fled south with the gods in pursuit.
Then the demons thought,
‘The gods are still in pursuit.
Why don’t we engage them in battle a second time?’
And so a second battle was fought between the gods and the demons.
And for a second time the gods won and the demons lost.
Defeated, the demons fled south with the gods in pursuit.
Then the demons thought,
‘The gods are still in pursuit.
Why don’t we engage them in battle a third time?’
And so a third battle was fought between the gods and the demons.
And for a third time the gods won and the demons lost.
Defeated and terrified, the demons fled right into the citadel of the demons.
When they had entered their citadel, they thought,
‘Now we’re in a secure location and the gods can’t do anything to us.’
And the gods also thought,
‘Now the demons are in a secure location and we can’t do anything to them.’
In the same way, a mendicant, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption, which has the rapture and bliss born of seclusion, while placing the mind and keeping it connected.
At such a time the mendicant thinks,
‘Now I’m in a secure location and Māra can’t do anything to me.’
And Māra the Wicked also thinks,
‘Now the mendicant is in a secure location and we can’t do anything to them.’
When, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, a mendicant enters and remains in the second absorption …
third absorption …
fourth absorption.
At such a time the mendicant thinks,
‘Now I’m in a secure location and Māra can’t do anything to me.’
And Māra the Wicked also thinks,
‘Now the mendicant is in a secure location and we can’t do anything to them.’
A mendicant, going totally beyond perceptions of form, with the ending of perceptions of impingement, not focusing on perceptions of diversity, aware that ‘space is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite space.
At such a time they are called a mendicant who has blinded Māra, put out his eyes without a trace, and gone where the Wicked One cannot see.
A mendicant, going totally beyond the dimension of infinite space, aware that ‘consciousness is infinite’, enters and remains in the dimension of infinite consciousness. …
Going totally beyond the dimension of infinite consciousness, aware that ‘there is nothing at all’, they enter and remain in the dimension of nothingness. …
Going totally beyond the dimension of nothingness, they enter and remain in the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. …
Going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, they enter and remain in the cessation of perception and feeling. And, having seen with wisdom, their defilements come to an end.
At such a time they are called a mendicant who has blinded Māra, put out his eyes without a trace, and gone where the Wicked One cannot see. And they’ve crossed over clinging to the world.”