Opportunities for FreedomVimuttāyatanasutta

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

Firstly, the Teacher or a respected spiritual companion teaches Dhamma to a mendicant.Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno satthā dhammaṁ deseti aññataro vā garuṭṭhāniyo sabrahmacārī. 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.Yathā yathā, bhikkhave, tassa bhikkhuno satthā dhammaṁ deseti, aññataro vā garuṭṭhāniyo sabrahmacārī tathā tathā so tasmiṁ dhamme atthapaṭisaṁvedī ca hoti dhammapaṭisaṁvedī ca. Feeling inspired, joy springs up.Tassa atthapaṭisaṁvedino dhammapaṭisaṁvedino pāmojjaṁ jāyati. Being joyful, rapture springs up.Pamuditassa pīti jāyati. When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil.Pītimanassa kāyo passambhati. When the body is tranquil, one feels bliss.Passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vedeti. And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi.Sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati. 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.Idaṁ, bhikkhave, paṭhamaṁ 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.Puna caparaṁ, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno na heva kho satthā dhammaṁ deseti, aññataro vā garuṭṭhāniyo sabrahmacārī, api ca kho yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ vitthārena paresaṁ deseti. 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.Yathā yathā, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ vitthārena paresaṁ deseti tathā tathā so tasmiṁ dhamme atthapaṭisaṁvedī ca hoti dhammapaṭisaṁvedī ca. Feeling inspired, joy springs up.Tassa atthapaṭisaṁvedino dhammapaṭisaṁvedino pāmojjaṁ jāyati. Being joyful, rapture springs up.Pamuditassa pīti jāyati. When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil.Pītimanassa kāyo passambhati. When the body is tranquil, one feels bliss.Passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vedeti. And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi.Sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati. This is the second opportunity for freedom. …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 … the mendicant teaches Dhamma. But the mendicant rehearses the teaching in detail as they learned and memorized it.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. 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.Yathā yathā, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ vitthārena sajjhāyaṁ karoti tathā tathā so tasmiṁ dhamme atthapaṭisaṁvedī ca hoti dhammapaṭisaṁvedī ca. Feeling inspired, joy springs up.Tassa atthapaṭisaṁvedino dhammapaṭisaṁvedino pāmojjaṁ jāyati. Being joyful, rapture springs up.Pamuditassa pīti jāyati. When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil.Pītimanassa kāyo passambhati. When the body is tranquil, one feels bliss.Passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vedeti. And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi.Sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati. This is the third opportunity for freedom. …Idaṁ, bhikkhave, tatiyaṁ vimuttāyatanaṁ yattha bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino …pe… yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāti.

Furthermore, it may be that neither the Teacher nor … the mendicant teaches Dhamma … nor does the mendicant rehearse the teaching.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; But the mendicant thinks about and considers the teaching in their heart, examining it with the mind as they learned and memorized it.api ca kho yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ cetasā anuvitakketi anuvicāreti manasānupekkhati. 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.Yathā yathā, bhikkhave, bhikkhu yathāsutaṁ yathāpariyattaṁ dhammaṁ cetasā anuvitakketi anuvicāreti manasānupekkhati tathā tathā so tasmiṁ dhamme atthapaṭisaṁvedī ca hoti dhammapaṭisaṁvedī ca. Feeling inspired, joy springs up.Tassa atthapaṭisaṁvedino dhammapaṭisaṁvedino pāmojjaṁ jāyati. Being joyful, rapture springs up.Pamuditassa pīti jāyati. When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil.Pītimanassa kāyo passambhati. When the body is tranquil, one feels bliss.Passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vedeti. And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi.Sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati. This is the fourth opportunity for freedom. …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 … or think about it.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; But a meditation subject as a basis of immersion is properly grasped, focused on, borne in mind, and penetrated with wisdom.api ca khvassa aññataraṁ samādhinimittaṁ suggahitaṁ hoti sumanasikataṁ sūpadhāritaṁ suppaṭividdhaṁ paññāya. 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.Yathā yathā, bhikkhave, bhikkhuno aññataraṁ samādhinimittaṁ suggahitaṁ hoti sumanasikataṁ sūpadhāritaṁ suppaṭividdhaṁ paññāya tathā tathā so tasmiṁ dhamme atthapaṭisaṁvedī ca hoti dhammapaṭisaṁvedī ca. Feeling inspired, joy springs up.Tassa atthapaṭisaṁvedino dhammapaṭisaṁvedino pāmojjaṁ jāyati. Being joyful, rapture springs up.Pamuditassa pīti jāyati. When the mind is full of rapture, the body becomes tranquil.Pītimanassa kāyo passambhati. When the body is tranquil, one feels bliss.Passaddhakāyo sukhaṁ vedeti. And when blissful, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi.Sukhino cittaṁ samādhiyati. This is the fifth opportunity for freedom. …Idaṁ, bhikkhave, pañcamaṁ vimuttāyatanaṁ yattha bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato avimuttaṁ vā cittaṁ vimuccati, aparikkhīṇā vā āsavā parikkhayaṁ gacchanti, ananuppattaṁ vā anuttaraṁ yogakkhemaṁ anupāpuṇāti.

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.”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.