Practising Effacement
 

from the Sallekha Sutta

The Blessed One continued to the
Ven. Maha Cunda
Sometimes it may happen
Unmoved by perceptions of form,
Perceptions of sense impact,
Perceptions of diversity,
A bikkhu dwells in the base
Of Infinite Space, thinking,
That this is effacement,
But in the discipline of the Noble One
These are only peaceful abidings.

From the base of Infinite Space
He attains the base of Infinite Consciousness
But these are again
Only peaceful abidings
In the discipline of the Noble One.

From the base of Infinite Consciousness
He becomes aware of Nothingness,
And abiding in the base of Nothingness,
He may realise neither perception nor
non-perception
And think he has reached effacement
But these are only peaceful abidings.

Then, how, Cunda, do you practise effacement?
You will not be cruel though others are cruel
You will not kill though others kill,
You will not steal though others steal,
You will not stray from celibacy though others do,
You will not speak lies though others lie,
Nor speak with malice or harshness
Though others do. Nor gossip like others,
Nor be covetous though others are.
You will not have ill-will
Though others have ill-will.
Thus abstaining, you will practise effacement.

Without wrong view and wrong intention,
Without wrong speech and wrong action
You will practise effacement
Though others err.

You will have right livelihood,
Right effort, right mindfulness,
right concentration,
Right knowledge and right deliverance.
Thus practising effacement
You will be free. Unlike those with wrong livelihood,
wrong effort and wrong mindfulness,
Wrong concentration, wrong knowledge,
and wrong deliverance,
Overcome by sloth and torper, restlessness
and doubt,
From all which, practising effacement
You will be free.

- U. Karunatilake