an.9.43 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

Bodily Witness

[Udayin:] “‘Bodily witness, bodily witness,’ it is said. To what extent is one described by the Blessed One as a bodily witness?”

[Ananda:] “There is the case, my friend, where a monk, withdrawn from sensuality, withdrawn from unskillful qualities, enters & remains in the first jhana: rapture & pleasure born from withdrawal, accompanied by directed thought & evaluation. He remains touching with his body in whatever way there is an opening there [see ]. It is to this extent that one is described by the Blessed One as a bodily witness, though with a sequel.

“Furthermore, with the stilling of directed thoughts & evaluations, he enters & remains in the second jhana… the third jhana… the fourth jhana… the dimension of the infinitude of space… the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness… the dimension of nothingness… the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. He remains touching with his body in whatever way there is an opening there. It is to this extent that one is described by the Blessed One as a bodily witness, though with a sequel.

“Furthermore, with the complete transcending of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, he enters & remains in the cessation of perception & feeling. And as he sees with discernment, the mental fermentations go to their total end. He remains touching with his body in whatever way there is an opening there. It is to this extent that one is described by the Blessed One as a bodily witness without a sequel.”

- Translator: Thanissaro Bhikkhu

- Editor: Gabriel Laera

A Personal Witness

What is the personal witness that the Buddha spoke of?”
“Reverend, they speak of a person called ‘personal witness’.
“First, take a mendicant who, quite secluded from sensual pleasures … enters and remains in the first absorption.
They meditate directly experiencing that dimension in every way.
To this extent the Buddha spoke of the personal witness in a qualified sense.
Furthermore, take a mendicant who, as the placing of the mind and keeping it connected are stilled, enters and remains in the second absorption …
third absorption …
fourth absorption.
They meditate directly experiencing that dimension in every way.
To this extent the Buddha spoke of the personal witness in a qualified sense.
Furthermore, take a mendicant who, 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.
They meditate directly experiencing that dimension in every way.
To this extent the Buddha spoke of the personal witness in a qualified sense. Furthermore, take a mendicant who enters and remains in the dimension of infinite consciousness … the dimension of nothingness … the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception …
Furthermore, take a mendicant who, going totally beyond the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, enters and remains in the cessation of perception and feeling. And, having seen with wisdom, their defilements come to an end.
They meditate directly experiencing that dimension in every way.
To this extent the Buddha spoke of the personal witness in a definitive sense.”