The Buddha describes the seven elements of radiance, beauty, boundless space, boundless consciousness, nothingness, neither perception nor non-perception, and cessation of perception and feeling, and how they can be discerned and realized.
Sattadhātu sutta - Seven Elements
At Sāvatthi.
"Bhikkhus, there are these seven elements. What seven? The element of radiance, the element of beauty, the element of the base of boundless space, the element of the base of boundless consciousness, the element of the base of nothingness, the element of the base of neither perception nor non-perception, and the element of the cessation of perception and feeling. These are the seven elements."
When this was said, a certain bhikkhu said to the Blessed One: "Venerable sir, the element of radiance, the element of beauty, the element of the base of boundless space, the element of the base of boundless consciousness, the element of the base of nothingness, the element of the base of neither perception nor non-perception, and the element of the cessation of perception and feeling—in dependence on what are these elements discerned?"
1 "Bhikkhu, the element of radiance is discerned in dependence on darkness.
2 The element of beauty is discerned in dependence on ugliness.
3 The element of the base of boundless space is discerned in dependence on form.
4 The element of the base of boundless consciousness is discerned in dependence on the base of boundless space.
5 The element of the base of nothingness is discerned in dependence on the base of boundless consciousness.
6 The element of the base of neither perception nor non-perception is discerned in dependence on the base of nothingness.
7 The element of the cessation of perception and feeling is discerned in dependence on gradual ending."
"Venerable sir, the element of radiance, the element of beauty, the element of the base of boundless space, the element of the base of boundless consciousness, the element of the base of nothingness, the element of the base of neither perception nor non-perception, and the element of the cessation of perception and feeling—how is the attainment of these elements to be realized?"
"Bhikkhu, the element of radiance, the element of beauty, the element of the base of boundless space, the element of the base of boundless consciousness, and the element of the base of nothingness—these elements are to be realized as attainments of perception. The element of the base of neither perception nor non-perception is to be realized as an attainment with a residue of formations. The element of the cessation of perception and feeling is to be realized as an attainment of cessation."