7 stations of consciousness
- Diversity of body and diversity of perception (such as human beings, some devas, and some beings in the lower realms)
- Diversity of body and singularity of perception (such as the devas of the Brahma hosts generated by the first jhana and some beings in the four realms of deprivation)
- Beings with singularity of body and diversity of perception (such as the Radiant Devas)
- Beings with singularity of body and singularity of perception (such as the Beautifully Lustrous Devas)
- Beings who, with the complete transcending of perceptions of [physical] form, with the disappearance of perceptions of resistance, and not heeding perceptions of diversity, [perceiving] Infinite space, arrive at the dimension of the infinitude of space
- Beings who, with the complete transcending of the dimension of the infinitude of space, [perceiving] Infinite consciousness, arrive at the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness
- Beings who, with the complete transcending of the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness, [perceiving] there is no-thing, arrive at the dimension of nothingness
(from Digha Nikaya 15)