Aṅguttara Nikāya - The Numerical Discourses

5: The Book of the Fives

26. Liberation

1"Bhikkhus, there are these five bases of liberation [n.989] Vimuttāyatanāni. Mp: "Causes of being liberated" (vimuccana-kāraṇāni). by means of which, if a bhikkhu dwells heedful, ardent, and resolute, his unliberated mind is liberated, his undestroyed taints are utterly destroyed, and he reaches the as-yet-unreached unsurpassed security from bondage.

2(1)What five? "Here, bhikkhus, the Teacher or a fellow monk in the position of a teacher teaches the Dhamma to a bhikkhu. In whatever way the Teacher or that fellow monk in the position of a teacher teaches the Dhamma to the bhikkhu, in just that way he experiences inspiration in the meaning and inspiration in the Dhamma. [n.990] So tasmiṁ dhamme atthapaṭisaṁvedī ca hoti dhammapaṭisaṁvedī ca. Mp explains atthapaṭisaṁvedī as "one knowing the meaning of the text" (pāḷi-atthaṁ jānantassa) and dhammapaṭisaṁvedī as "one knowing the text" (pāḷiṁ jānantassa), but this explanation is certainly too narrow and anachronistic. At AN6.10, we find labhati atthavedaṁ labhati dhammavedaṁ, which I render "(he) gains inspiration in the meaning, inspiration in the Dhamma." The stem of paṭisaṁvedī is vedī, which obviously connects atthapaṭisaṁvedī and dhammapaṭisaṁvedī to atthaveda and dhammaveda. The root vid is related both to vijjā, knowledge, and vedanā, feeling. Thus I suggest veda should be understood as inspired knowledge, or "inspiration," which gives rise to pāmojja and pīti, joy and rapture. It is likely that atthapaṭisaṁvedī and dhammapaṭisaṁvedī are related to atthapaṭisambhidā and dhammapaṭisambhidā, though in Pāli the latter are connected to the verb bhindati, "to break, to divide." See too pp. 1643–44, note 403. As he does so, joy arises in him. When he is joyful, rapture arises. For one with a rapturous mind, the body becomes tranquil. One tranquil in body feels pleasure. For one feeling pleasure, the mind becomes concentrated. [n.991] Mp explains this to mean "he is concentrated by the concentration of the fruit of arahantship" (arahattaphalasamādhinā samādhiyati). It seems improbable to me that this was the original intention, for the context suggests that this is a concentration that serves as the basis for insight, and thereafter for the attainment of path and fruit, not a concentration that occurs subsequent to realization. This is the first basis of liberation, by means of which, if a bhikkhu dwells heedful, ardent, and resolute, his unliberated mind is liberated, his undestroyed taints are utterly destroyed, and he reaches the as-yet-unreached unsurpassed security from bondage.

3(2) "Again, neither the Teacher nor a fellow monk in the position of a teacher teaches the Dhamma to a bhikkhu, but he himself teaches the Dhamma to others in detail as he has heard it and learned it. In whatever way the bhikkhu teaches the Dhamma to others in detail as he has heard it and learned it, in just that way, in relation to that Dhamma, he experiences inspiration in the meaning and inspiration in the Dhamma. As he does so, joy arises in him. When he is joyful, rapture arises. For one with a rapturous mind, the body becomes tranquil. One tranquil in body feels pleasure. For one feeling pleasure, the mind becomes concentrated. This is the second basis of liberation, by means of which, if a bhikkhu dwells heedful, ardent, and resolute, his unliberated mind is liberated, his undestroyed taints are utterly destroyed, and he reaches the as-yet-unreached unsurpassed security from bondage.

4(3) "Again, neither the Teacher nor a fellow monk in the position of a teacher teaches the Dhamma to a bhikkhu, nor does he himself teach the Dhamma to others in detail as he has heard it and learned it, but he recites the Dhamma in detail as he has heard it and learned it. In whatever way the bhikkhu recites the Dhamma in detail as he has heard it and learned it, in just that way, in relation to that Dhamma, he experiences inspiration in the meaning and inspiration in the Dhamma. As he does so, joy arises in him. When he is joyful, rapture arises. For one with a rapturous mind, the body becomes tranquil. One tranquil in body feels pleasure. For one feeling pleasure, the mind becomes concentrated. This is the third basis of liberation, by means of which, if a bhikkhu dwells heedful, ardent, and resolute, his unliberated mind is liberated, his undestroyed taints are utterly destroyed, and he reaches the as-yet-unreached unsurpassed security from bondage.

5(4) "Again, neither the Teacher nor a fellow monk in the position of a teacher teaches the Dhamma to a bhikkhu, nor does he teach the Dhamma to others in detail as he has heard it and learned it, nor does he recite the Dhamma in detail as he has heard it and learned it, but he ponders, examines, and mentally inspects the Dhamma as he has heard it and learned it. In whatever way the bhikkhu ponders, examines, and mentally inspects the Dhamma as he has heard it and learned it, in just that way, in relation to that Dhamma, he experiences inspiration in the meaning and inspiration in the Dhamma. As he does so, joy arises in him. When he is joyful, rapture arises. For one with a rapturous mind, the body becomes tranquil. One tranquil in body feels pleasure. For one feeling pleasure, the mind becomes concentrated. This is the fourth basis of liberation, by means of which, if a bhikkhu dwells heedful, ardent, and resolute, his unliberated mind is liberated, his undestroyed taints are utterly destroyed, and he reaches the as-yet-unreached unsurpassed security from bondage.

6(5) "Again, neither the Teacher nor a fellow monk in the position of a teacher teaches the Dhamma to a bhikkhu, nor does he teach the Dhamma to others in detail as he has heard it and learned it, nor does he recite the Dhamma in detail as he has heard it and learned it, nor does he ponder, examine, and mentally inspect the Dhamma as he has heard it and learned it, but he has grasped well a certain object of concentration, attended to it well, sustained it well, and penetrated it well with wisdom. In whatever way the bhikkhu has grasped well a certain object of concentration, attended to it well, sustained it well, and penetrated it well with wisdom, in just that way, in relation to that Dhamma, he experiences inspiration in the meaning and inspiration in the Dhamma. As he does so, joy arises in him. When he is joyful, rapture arises. For one with a rapturous mind, the body becomes tranquil. One tranquil in body feels pleasure. For one feeling pleasure, the mind becomes concentrated. This is the fifth basis of liberation, by means of which, if a bhikkhu dwells heedful, ardent, and resolute, his unliberated mind is liberated, his undestroyed taints are utterly destroyed, and he reaches the as-yet-unreached unsurpassed security from bondage.

7"These, bhikkhus, are the five bases of liberation, by means of which, if a bhikkhu dwells heedful, ardent, and resolute, his unliberated mind is liberated, his undestroyed taints are utterly destroyed, and he reaches the as-yet-unreached unsurpassed security from bondage."

1"Pañcimāni, bhikkhave, vimuttāyatanāni yattha bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato avimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ vimuccati, aparikkhīṇā vā āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattaṁ vā anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāti.

2Katamāni pañca? Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno satthā dhammaṁ deseti aññataro vā garuṭṭhāniyo sabrahmacārī. Yathā yathā, bhikkhave, tassa bhikkhuno satthā dhammaṁ deseti, aññataro vā garuṭṭhāniyo sabrahmacārī tathā tathā so tasmiṁ dhamme atthapaṭisaṁvedī ca hoti dhammapaṭisaṁvedī ca. Tassa atthapaṭisaṁvedino dhammapaṭisaṁvedino pāmojjaṁ jāyati. Pamuditassa pīti jāyati. Pītimanassa kāyo passambhati. Passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vedeti. Sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati. Idaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamaṁ vimuttāyatanaṁ yattha bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato avimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ vimuccati, aparikkhīṇā vā āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattaṁ vā anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāti. (1)

3Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno na heva kho satthā dhammaṁ deseti, aññataro vā garuṭṭhāniyo sabrahmacārī, api ca kho yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ vitthārena paresaṁ deseti. Yathā yathā, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ vitthārena paresaṁ deseti tathā tathā so tasmiṁ dhamme atthapaṭisaṁvedī ca hoti dhammapaṭisaṁvedī ca. Tassa atthapaṭisaṁvedino dhammapaṭisaṁvedino pāmojjaṁ jāyati. Pamuditassa pīti jāyati. Pītimanassa kāyo passambhati. Passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vedeti. Sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati. Idaṁ, bhikkhave, dutiyaṁ vimuttāyatanaṁ yattha bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato avimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ vimuccati, aparikkhīṇā vā āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattaṁ vā anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāti. (2)

4Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno na heva kho satthā dhammaṁ deseti, aññataro vā garuṭṭhāniyo sabrahmacārī, nāpi yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ vitthārena paresaṁ deseti, api ca kho yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ vitthārena sajjhāyaṁ karoti. Yathā yathā, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ vitthārena sajjhāyaṁ karoti tathā tathā so tasmiṁ dhamme atthapaṭisaṁvedī ca hoti dhammapaṭisaṁvedī ca. Tassa atthapaṭisaṁvedino dhammapaṭisaṁvedino pāmojjaṁ jāyati. Pamuditassa pīti jāyati. Pītimanassa kāyo passambhati. Passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vedeti. Sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati. Idaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyaṁ vimuttāyatanaṁ yattha bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino … pe … yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāti. (3)

5Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno na heva kho satthā dhammaṁ deseti, aññataro vā garuṭṭhāniyo sabrahmacārī, nāpi yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ vitthārena paresaṁ deseti, nāpi yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ vitthārena sajjhāyaṁ karoti; api ca kho yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ cetasā anuvitakketi anuvicāreti manasānupekkhati. Yathā yathā, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ cetasā anuvitakketi anuvicāreti manasānupekkhati tathā tathā so tasmiṁ dhamme atthapaṭisaṁvedī ca hoti dhammapaṭisaṁvedī ca. Tassa atthapaṭisaṁvedino dhammapaṭisaṁvedino pāmojjaṁ jāyati. Pamuditassa pīti jāyati. Pītimanassa kāyo passambhati. Passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vedeti. Sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati. Idaṁ, bhikkhave, catutthaṁ vimuttāyatanaṁ yattha bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato avimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ vimuccati, aparikkhīṇā vā āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattaṁ vā anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāti. (4)

6Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno na heva kho satthā dhammaṁ deseti aññataro vā garuṭṭhāniyo sabrahmacārī, nāpi yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ vitthārena paresaṁ deseti, nāpi yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ vitthārena sajjhāyaṁ karoti, nāpi yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ cetasā anuvitakketi anuvicāreti manasānupekkhati; api ca khvassa aññataraṁ samādhinimittaṁ suggahitaṁ hoti sumanasikataṁ sūpadhāritaṁ suppaṭividdhaṁ paññāya. Yathā yathā, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno aññataraṁ samādhinimittaṁ suggahitaṁ hoti sumanasikataṁ sūpadhāritaṁ suppaṭividdhaṁ paññāya tathā tathā so tasmiṁ dhamme atthapaṭisaṁvedī ca hoti dhammapaṭisaṁvedī ca. Tassa atthapaṭisaṁvedino dhammapaṭisaṁvedino pāmojjaṁ jāyati. Pamuditassa pīti jāyati. Pītimanassa kāyo passambhati. Passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vedeti. Sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati. Idaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamaṁ vimuttāyatanaṁ yattha bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato avimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ vimuccati, aparikkhīṇā vā āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattaṁ vā anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāti. (5)

7Imāni kho, bhikkhave, pañca vimuttāyatanāni yattha bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato avimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ vimuccati, aparikkhīṇā vā āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattaṁ vā anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇātī"ti.


Chaṭṭhaṁ.

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