user471: This is based on the comments below this answer.
From this page, we find the commentary:

nirodha-samāpatti 'attainment of extinction' (S. XIV, 11), also called
saññā-vedayita-nirodha, 'extinction of feeling and perception', is the
temporary suspension of all consciousness and mental activity,
following immediately upon the semi-conscious state called 'sphere of
neither-perception-nor-non-perception' (s. jhāna, 8).

And also this commentary:

According to the commentary, "seclusion" here stands for Unbinding. On
emerging from the cessation of perception & feeling, and having had
contact with emptiness/the signless/the undirected, the mind inclines
naturally to a direct experience of Unbinding.

On the other hand, the sutta states:

Furthermore, take a mendicant who, going totally beyond the dimension
of neither perception nor non-perception, enters and remains in the
cessation of perception and feeling. And, having seen with wisdom,
their defilements come to an end. To this extent the Buddha spoke of
progressive cessation in a definitive sense.”
AN 9.61

My question is:
Does nirodha samapatti aka saññā-vedayita-nirodha refer to a super trance-like state beyond the 8th jhana in which the practitioner becomes completely unconscious without any mental activity (like what the commentary above suggests) with cessation of ALL perception and feeling?
Or does nirodha samapatti aka saññā-vedayita-nirodha refer to Nibbana-element with residue aka Unbinding-property with fuel remaining of Iti 44 (please see Ven. Thanissaro's footnotes), where the arahant is fully conscious with mental activity, but has cessation of only the clinging (or tainted) perception and feeling? This is related to the clinging aggregates of SN 22.48.
The quoted passage from AN 9.61 can be interpreted in both these ways. The commentary suggests that after the practitioner comes out of the super trance-like state then he stays with Nibbana-element with residue. But the latter interpretation suggests that beyond the 8 jhanas, there is no super trance-like state. Rather, after experiencing Nibbana, it's directly Nibbana-element with residue in any state with mental activity present.
In short, does nirodha samapatti aka saññā-vedayita-nirodha mean cessation of ALL perception and feeling, or cessation of the clinging-aggregates of perception and feeling?
Question: does nirodha samapatti refer to a super trance like state beyond 8th jhana OR does it refer to the state of arahantship (nibbana-element without residue i.e. without the clinging aggregates of perception and feeling)?

user10100: 
Does nirodha samapatti aka saññā-vedayita-nirodha refer to a super trance-like state beyond the 8th jhana in which the practitioner becomes completely unconscious without any mental activity (like what the commentary above suggests) with cessation of ALL perception and feeling?

Yes.

Or does nirodha samapatti aka saññā-vedayita-nirodha refer to Nibbana-element with residue aka Unbinding-property with fuel remaining of Iti 44 (please see Ven. Thanissaro's footnotes), where the arahant is fully conscious with mental activity, but has cessation of only the clinging (or tainted) perception and feeling? This is related to the clinging aggregates of SN 22.48.

No. the "Cessation of only the clinging (or tainted) perception and feeling" has already happened at the enlightenment moment of Arahanta. There has no ceased Kilesa left to cease anymore, after Magga arose.
And in basic Abhidhamma, 4 nama-aggregates always arises together. No sanna means no vedana, no sankhara, and no vinnana too.

But the latter interpretation suggests that beyond the 8 jhanas, there is no super trance-like state. Rather, after experiencing Nibbana, it's directly Nibbana-element with residue in any state with mental activity present.

In basic Abhidhamma, 19 nama arising (CittUppada) can know Nibbana, 4 MaggaCitta 4 PhalaCitta 4 NanasampayuttaMahaKusalaCitta 4 NanaSampayuttaMahaKiriyaCitta 2 AbhinnaCitta
1 ManoDvaravajjana.
So, the "directly Nibbana-element with residue in any state with mental activity present" is included into those 19  nama arising already. It is not NirodhaSamapatti.

471: <p>This is based on the comments below <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/45274/471">this answer</a>.</p>
<p>From <a href="http://www.palikanon.com/english/wtb/n_r/nirodha_samaapatti.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this page</a>, we find the commentary:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>nirodha-samāpatti 'attainment of extinction' (S. XIV, 11), also called
saññā-vedayita-nirodha, 'extinction of feeling and perception', is the
temporary suspension of all consciousness and mental activity,
following immediately upon the semi-conscious state called 'sphere of
neither-perception-nor-non-perception' (s. jhāna, 8).</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And also <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn41/sn41.006.than.html#fn-4" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this commentary</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>According to the commentary, &quot;seclusion&quot; here stands for Unbinding. On
emerging from the cessation of perception &amp; feeling, and having had
contact with emptiness/the signless/the undirected, the mind inclines
naturally to a direct experience of Unbinding.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>On the other hand, the sutta states:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Furthermore, take a mendicant who, going totally beyond the dimension
of neither perception nor non-perception, enters and remains in the
cessation of perception and feeling. And, having seen with wisdom,
their defilements come to an end. To this extent the Buddha spoke of
progressive cessation in a definitive sense.”<br />
<a href="https://suttacentral.net/an9.61/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 9.61</a></p>
</blockquote>
<p>My question is:</p>
<p>Does nirodha samapatti aka saññā-vedayita-nirodha refer to a super trance-like state beyond the 8th jhana in which the practitioner becomes completely unconscious without any mental activity (like what the commentary above suggests) with cessation of ALL perception and feeling?</p>
<p>Or does nirodha samapatti aka saññā-vedayita-nirodha refer to Nibbana-element with residue aka Unbinding-property with fuel remaining of <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/iti/iti.2.028-049.than.html#iti-044" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Iti 44</a> (please see Ven. Thanissaro's footnotes), where the arahant is fully conscious with mental activity, but has cessation of only the clinging (or tainted) perception and feeling? This is related to the clinging aggregates of <a href="https://suttacentral.net/sn22.48/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SN 22.48</a>.</p>
<p>The quoted passage from <a href="https://suttacentral.net/an9.61/en/sujato" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 9.61</a> can be interpreted in both these ways. The commentary suggests that after the practitioner comes out of the super trance-like state then he stays with Nibbana-element with residue. But the latter interpretation suggests that beyond the 8 jhanas, there is no super trance-like state. Rather, after experiencing Nibbana, it's directly Nibbana-element with residue in any state with mental activity present.</p>
<p>In short, does nirodha samapatti aka saññā-vedayita-nirodha mean cessation of ALL perception and feeling, or cessation of the clinging-aggregates of perception and feeling?</p>
<p><strong>Question: does nirodha samapatti refer to a super trance like state beyond 8th jhana OR does it refer to the state of arahantship (nibbana-element without residue i.e. without the clinging aggregates of perception and feeling)?</strong></p>
 10100: <blockquote>
<p>Does nirodha samapatti aka saññā-vedayita-nirodha refer to a super trance-like state beyond the 8th jhana in which the practitioner becomes completely unconscious without any mental activity (like what the commentary above suggests) with cessation of ALL perception and feeling?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Yes.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Or does nirodha samapatti aka saññā-vedayita-nirodha refer to Nibbana-element with residue aka Unbinding-property with fuel remaining of Iti 44 (please see Ven. Thanissaro's footnotes), where the arahant is fully conscious with mental activity, but has cessation of only the clinging (or tainted) perception and feeling? This is related to the clinging aggregates of SN 22.48.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>No. the &quot;Cessation of only the clinging (or tainted) perception and feeling&quot; has already happened at the enlightenment moment of Arahanta. There has no ceased Kilesa left to cease anymore, after Magga arose.</p>
<p>And in basic Abhidhamma, 4 nama-aggregates always arises together. No sanna means no vedana, no sankhara, and no vinnana too.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>But the latter interpretation suggests that beyond the 8 jhanas, there is no super trance-like state. Rather, after experiencing Nibbana, it's directly Nibbana-element with residue in any state with mental activity present.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>In basic Abhidhamma, 19 nama arising (CittUppada) can know Nibbana, 4 MaggaCitta 4 PhalaCitta 4 NanasampayuttaMahaKusalaCitta 4 NanaSampayuttaMahaKiriyaCitta 2 AbhinnaCitta
1 ManoDvaravajjana.</p>
<p>So, the &quot;directly Nibbana-element with residue in any state with mental activity present&quot; <strong>is included into those 19  nama arising already. It is not NirodhaSamapatti.</strong></p>
