Vimuttāyatanasutta

Disciples, there are these five bases of liberation where, dwelling with diligence, ardor, and intent, a disciple's mind, if not yet released, is released; his.āsavas, if not yet eradicated, go to destruction; and the unsurpassed security from bondage is attained if not yet reached.

What are the five?

Here a teacher or a respected fellow practitioner teaches the Dhamma to the disciple.

In whatever way the teacher or the respected fellow practitioner teaches the Dhamma to him, so in that degree he experiences the meaning and the Dhamma.

Experiencing the meaning and the Dhamma, gladness arises in him.

From gladness, joy arises.

With a joyful mind, the body becomes tranquil.

With a tranquil body, he feels happiness.

With happiness, the mind becomes concentrated.

This is the first basis of liberation where, dwelling with diligence, ardor, and intent, a disciple's mind, if not yet released, is released; his āsavas, if not yet eradicated, go to destruction; and the unsurpassed security from bondage is attained if not yet reached.

Again there is the case where the disciple does not receive Dhamma teaching from the teacher or a respected fellow practitioner, but instead teaches the Dhamma extensively to others, according to what he has heard and learned.

In whatever way the disciple teaches the Dhamma extensively to others, according to what he has heard and learned, so in that degree he experiences the meaning and the Dhamma.

Experiencing the meaning and the Dhamma, gladness arises in him.

From gladness, joy arises.

With a joyful mind, the body becomes tranquil.

With a tranquil body, he feels happiness.

With happiness, the mind becomes concentrated.

This is the second basis of liberation where, dwelling with diligence, ardor, and intent, a disciple's mind, if not yet released, is released; his āsavas, if not yet eradicated, go to destruction; and the unsurpassed security from bondage is attained if not yet reached.

Furthermore the case is such where the disciple does not receive Dhamma teaching from the teacher or a respected fellow practitioner, nor does he teach the Dhamma extensively to others according to what he has heard and learned, but he recites the Dhamma according to what he has heard and learned.

As a disciple regularly recites the teaching as heard and memorized in detail, in such a way he experiences a deep understanding of the meaning and the teaching itself.

From his understanding and experiencing of the teaching, delight arises.

With joy comes pīti.

When the mind is filled with pīti, the body becomes tranquil.

A tranquil body experiences happiness.

For the happy one, the mind becomes concentrated.

This is the third basis of liberation, wherein a diligent and ardent disciple attains security from bondage.

Furthermore the teacher does not teach the Dhamma, nor does any respected fellow practitioner. The disciple may not teach the Dhamma to others extensively as he has heard and memorized it, nor may he regularly recite it in detail.

However, he deeply examines, reflects, and attentively considers the teaching. As the disciple diligently reflects on and considers the teaching, his understanding of the meaning and the teaching itself deepens.

From his understanding arises delight. From delight, pīti arises.

With the mind filled with pīti, the body becomes tranquil.

A tranquil body experiences happiness.

For the happy one, the mind becomes concentrated.

This is the fourth basis of liberation, wherein a diligent, ardent, and resolved disciple, living diligently, liberates a mind not yet freed, exhausts the taints not yet exhausted, and attains the supreme security from bondage not yet achieved.

Moreover the teacher does not explicitly teach the Dhamma, nor does any respected fellow practitioner. The disciple may not instruct others extensively, nor regularly recite, nor deeply examine, reflect, and attentively consider the teaching. However, he holds a certain sign of concentration well, has focused his mind, bears it in mind sharply, and penetrates it thoroughly with wisdom.

As a disciple’s attention to a certain object of concentration is well apprehended, well considered, well sustained, and well penetrated with wisdom, he experiences both the understanding and the realization of that phenomenon.

Experiencing the understanding and realization leads to joy.

With joy, delight arises.

When the mind is delighted, the body becomes tranquil.

With a tranquil body, one experiences happiness.

When one is happy, the mind becomes concentrated.

This is the fifth state of liberation, where while one is dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, any unreleased mind becomes released, any remaining defilements are eradicated, and one attains the unsurpassed state of security from bondage.

These, indeed are the five states of liberation where while one is dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, any unreleased mind becomes released, any remaining defilements are eradicated, and one attains the unsurpassed state of security from bondage.