Numbered Discourses 8.65

7. Earthquakes

Dimensions of Mastery

“Mendicants, there are these eight dimensions of mastery.
What eight?
Perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally, limited, both pretty and ugly.
Mastering them, they perceive: ‘I know and see.’
This is the first dimension of mastery.

Perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally, limitless, both pretty and ugly.
Mastering them, they perceive: ‘I know and see.’
This is the second dimension of mastery.

Not perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally, limited, both pretty and ugly.
Mastering them, they perceive: ‘I know and see.’
This is the third dimension of mastery.

Not perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally, limitless, both pretty and ugly.
Mastering them, they perceive: ‘I know and see.’
This is the fourth dimension of mastery.

Not perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally, blue, with blue color and blue appearance.
Mastering them, they perceive: ‘I know and see.’
This is the fifth dimension of mastery.

Not perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally, yellow, with yellow color and yellow appearance.
Mastering them, they perceive: ‘I know and see.’
This is the sixth dimension of mastery.

Not perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally, red, with red color and red appearance.
Mastering them, they perceive: ‘I know and see.’
This is the seventh dimension of mastery.

Not perceiving form internally, someone sees forms externally, white, with white color and white appearance.
Mastering them, they perceive: ‘I know and see.’
This is the eighth dimension of mastery.
These are the eight dimensions of mastery.”