AN 5.26

Vimuttāyatanasutta

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

Opportunities for Freedom

“Mendicants, there are these five opportunities for freedom. If a mendicant stays diligent, keen, and resolute at these times, their mind is freed, their defilements are ended, and they arrive at the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.

Katamāni 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.

What five? Firstly, the Teacher or a respected spiritual companion teaches Dhamma to a mendicant. In whatever way the Teacher or a respected spiritual companion teaches Dhamma to that mendicant, they always feel inspired by the meaning and the teaching in that Dhamma. Feeling inspired, joy springs up. Being joyful, rapture springs up. When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil. When the body is tranquil, one feels bliss. And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi. This is the first opportunity for freedom. If a mendicant stays diligent, keen, and resolute at this time, their mind is freed, their defilements are ended, and they arrive at the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.

Puna 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.

Furthermore, it may be that neither the Teacher nor a respected spiritual companion teaches Dhamma to a mendicant. But the mendicant teaches Dhamma in detail to others as they learned and memorized it. In whatever way that mendicant teaches Dhamma in detail to others as they learned and memorized it, they always feel inspired by the meaning and the teaching in that Dhamma. Feeling inspired, joy springs up. Being joyful, rapture springs up. When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil. When the body is tranquil, one feels bliss. And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi. This is the second opportunity for freedom. …

Puna 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.

Furthermore, it may be that neither the Teacher nor … the mendicant teaches Dhamma. But the mendicant rehearses the teaching in detail as they learned and memorized it. In whatever way that mendicant rehearses the teaching in detail as they learned and memorized it, they always feel inspired by the meaning and the teaching in that Dhamma. Feeling inspired, joy springs up. Being joyful, rapture springs up. When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil. When the body is tranquil, one feels bliss. And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi. This is the third opportunity for freedom. …

Puna 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.

Furthermore, it may be that neither the Teacher nor … the mendicant teaches Dhamma … nor does the mendicant rehearse the teaching. But the mendicant thinks about and considers the teaching in their heart, examining it with the mind as they learned and memorized it. In whatever way that mendicant thinks about and considers the teaching in their heart, examining it with the mind as they learned and memorized it, they always feel inspired by the meaning and the teaching in that Dhamma. Feeling inspired, joy springs up. Being joyful, rapture springs up. When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil. When the body is tranquil, one feels bliss. And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi. This is the fourth opportunity for freedom. …

Puna 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.

Furthermore, it may be that neither the Teacher nor … the mendicant teaches Dhamma … nor does the mendicant rehearse the teaching … or think about it. But a meditation subject as a basis of immersion is properly grasped, focused on, borne in mind, and penetrated with wisdom. In whatever way a mendicant’s meditation subject as a basis of immersion is properly grasped, focused on, borne in mind, and penetrated with wisdom, they always feel inspired by the meaning and the teaching in that Dhamma. Feeling inspired, joy springs up. Being joyful, rapture springs up. When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil. When the body is tranquil, one feels bliss. And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi. This is the fifth opportunity for freedom. …

Imāni 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.

These are the five opportunities for freedom. If a mendicant stays diligent, keen, and resolute at these times, their mind is freed, their defilements are ended, and they arrive at the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.”