The Question of Posāla

“To the one who reveals the past,”

said Venerable Posāla,

“who is imperturbable, with doubts cut off,

and who has gone beyond all things,

I have come seeking with a question.

Consider one who perceives that form has vanished, ^[1]

who has entirely given up the body,

and who sees nothing at all

internally and externally.

I ask the Sakyan about knowledge for them; ^[2]

how should that sort be guided?”

“The Realized One directly knows,”

said the Buddha,

“all planes of consciousness.

And he knows this one who remains,

committed to that as their final goal. ^[3]

Understanding that desire for rebirth

in the dimension of nothingness is a fetter,

and directly knowing what this really means,

one then discerns that matter clearly.

That is their knowledge of truth,

the brahmin who has lived the life.”