Stations of Consciousness (First Discourse)

Ānanda, there are seven stations of consciousness and two spheres.

Which are the seven?

There are beings different in body and different in perception, such as human beings, some heavenly beings and some in states of sorrow. That is the first station of consciousness.

There are beings different in body and alike in perception, such as the heavenly beings of Brahmā’s (God’s) company, born there [on account of having attained] the first Jhāna. That is the second station of consciousness.

There are beings alike in body and different in perception, such as the Ābhassara heavenly beings. That is the third station of consciousness.

There are beings alike in body and alike in perception, such as the Subhakiṇṇa heavenly beings. That is the fourth station of consciousness.

There are beings who have completely transcended all perception of matter, by the vanishing of the perception of sense-reactions and by non-attention to the perception of variety; thinking: ‘Space is infinite’, they have attained to the Sphere of Infinite Space. That is the fifth station of consciousness.

There are beings who, by transcending the Sphere of Infinite Space, thinking: ‘Consciousness is infinite’, have attained to the Sphere of Infinite Consciousness. That is the sixth station of consciousness.

There are beings who, having transcended the Sphere of Infinite Consciousness, thinking: ‘There is no thing’, have attained to the Sphere of Nothingness. That is the seventh station of consciousness.

[The two spheres are:] The Sphere of Unconscious Beings and, secondly, the Sphere of Neither Perception-Nor-Non-Perception.

Now, Ānanda, as regards this first station of consciousness, with difference of body and difference of perception, as in the case of human beings and so on, if anyone were to understand it, its origin, its elimination, its attraction and its dangers, and the liberation from it, would it be fitting for him to take pleasure in it?

‘No, Venerable Sir.’

And as regards the other stations, and the two spheres likewise?

‘No, Venerable.’

Ānanda, to the extent that a Monk, having known as they really are these seven stations of consciousness and these two spheres, their origin and elimination, their attraction and danger, is freed without attachment, that Monk, Ānanda, is called one who is liberated by wisdom.

(Reference: DN 15)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares the seven stations of consciousness and two spheres.

After explaining these, he guides his Student Ānanda that a Practitioner who understands these, their origin, elimination, attraction and danger, and the liberation from them would not take pleasure in them.

In other words, a Practitioner who understands how consciousness comes to be in existence would not take pleasure in existence. Through not taking pleasure in existence, there is not craving for existence therefore, one can become liberated from existence in The Cycle of Rebirth through having attained Enlightenment.

The Buddha explains a Practitioner who has attained Enlightenment as “one who is liberated by wisdom”. In order to liberate the mind from The Cycle of Rebirth, as described in Dependent Origination, the Practitioner needs to eradicate ignorance (unknowing of true reality) through acquiring wisdom, thus, “one is liberated by wisdom”.

Detailed explanation of Dependent Origination is available in this same book series found in Chapter 14 of the book “The First Stage of Enlightenment (Stream-Enterer)” (Volume 5).