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Anguttara Nikaya

# AN 5.26 Vimuttāyatana Sutta (Ways of Attaining Release) AN 5.26

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## Text

    [page 1]
    AN 5.26

    Vimuttāyatana Sutta
    “Ways of Attaining Release”

    Translated by Candana Bhikkhu

    Copyright © Candana Bhikkhu 2023

    “Bhikkhus, these are the five ways of attaining Release, wherein the Bhikkhu, while dedicating
    himself to the Training with diligence and resoluteness, comes to experience liberation as his
    unreleased heart becomes fully released, where his heart’s contaminants (āsavas) are finally
    depleted, as he finally accomplishes that which, up to that point, had not yet been accomplished,
    reaching the farther shore of ultimate security, beyond the reach of suffering’s yoke. And what
    are these five ways of Release?
    1. “Here, Bhikkhus, the Teacher or a fellow companion in the Holy Life, in the eminent capacity
    of a teacher, instructs the Bhikkhu. Slowly, while listening to the Dhamma being taught to him,
    the Bhikkhu is moved as he becomes inspired and finally begins to understand the meaning of
    what is being instructed to him. This leads him to experience and understand the deeper levels of
    the Dhamma, personally.
    “Being inspired thus, he suddenly feels much delight. And in the presence of such delight, joy
    arises within him, and for one with such a joyful mind, the body experiences deep relaxation and
    tranquility. And with the body becoming so relaxed and tranquil, one feels blissful. And when
    the Bhikkhu experiences such bliss, his heart becomes collected and stable.
    “Bhikkhus, this is the first of the five ways of attaining Release, wherein the Bhikkhu, while
    dedicating himself to the Training with diligence and resoluteness, comes to experience
    liberation as his unreleased heart becomes fully released, where his heart’s contaminants
    (āsavas) are finally depleted, as he finally accomplishes that which, up to that point, had not yet
    been accomplished, reaching the farther shore of ultimate security, beyond the reach of
    suffering’s yoke.
    2. “There is also the case, Bhikkhus, where despite there being neither the Teacher nor a fellow
    companion in the Holy Life, in the eminent capacity of a teacher to instruct the Bhikkhu, the
    Bhikkhu himself teaches the Dhamma to others and in detail, in the manner he had learned it.
    Now, in the process of teaching the Dhamma to others, in detail, and in the manner that he had
    learned and cultivated it in his heart, the Bhikkhu is moved as he becomes inspired and finally
    begins to understand the meaning of the Dhamma taught by The Blessed One. This leads him to
    experience and understand the deeper levels of the Dhamma, personally.

    [page 2]
    “Being inspired thus, he suddenly feels much delight. And in the presence of such delight, joy
    arises within him, and for one with such a joyful mind, the body experiences deep relaxation and
    tranquility. And with the body becoming so relaxed and tranquil, one feels blissful. And when
    the Bhikkhu experiences such bliss, his heart becomes collected and stable.
    “Bhikkhus, this is the second of the five ways of attaining Release, wherein the Bhikkhu, while
    dedicating himself to the Training with diligence and resoluteness, comes to experience
    liberation as his unreleased heart becomes fully released, where his heart’s contaminants
    (āsavas) are finally depleted, as he finally accomplishes that which, up to that point, had not yet
    been accomplished, reaching the farther shore of ultimate security, beyond the reach of
    suffering’s yoke.
    3. “Further, Bhikkhus, there is also the case where neither the Teacher nor a fellow companion in
    the Holy Life is to be found, functioning in the eminent capacity of a teacher to instruct the
    Bhikkhu, while the Bhikkhu himself happens to be unable to teach the Dhamma to others.
    Nevertheless, this does not stop him from reciting the Dhamma, in detail, and in the manner that
    he had heard and learned it. Now, because the Bhikkhu recites the Dhamma in detail, in doing
    so, the Bhikkhu is moved as he becomes inspired and finally begins to understand the meaning
    of the Dhamma taught by The Blessed One. This leads him to experience and understand the
    deeper levels of the Dhamma, personally.
    “Being inspired thus, he suddenly feels much delight. And in the presence of such delight, joy
    arises within him, and for one with such a joyful mind, the body experiences deep relaxation and
    tranquility. And with the body becoming so relaxed and tranquil, one feels blissful. And when
    the Bhikkhu experiences such bliss, his heart becomes collected and stable.
    “Now, Bhikkhus, this is the third of the five ways of attaining Release, wherein the Bhikkhu,
    while dedicating himself to the Training with diligence and resoluteness, comes to experience
    liberation as his unreleased heart becomes fully released, where his heart’s contaminants
    (āsavas) are finally depleted, as he finally accomplishes that which, up to that point, had not yet
    been accomplished, reaching the farther shore of ultimate security, beyond the reach of
    suffering’s yoke.
    4. “Further, Bhikkhus, there is also the case where neither the Teacher nor a fellow companion in
    the Holy Life is to be found, in the eminent capacity of a teacher to instruct the Bhikkhu, while
    the Bhikkhu himself happens to be unable to teach the Dhamma to others. In addition, he does
    not recite the Dhamma in detail, but he does carefully examine, while investigating the Dhamma
    within his heart, in detail, and in the manner that he had heard and learned it. Now, because this
    Bhikkhu carefully examines and investigates the Dhamma within the heart, in detail, and in the
    manner that he had heard and learned it, he is moved and becomes truly inspired, and finally
    begins to understand the meaning of the Dhamma taught by The Blessed One. This leads him to
    experience and understand the deeper levels of the Dhamma, personally.
    “Being inspired thus, he suddenly feels much delight. And in the presence of such delight, joy
    arises within him, and for one with such a joyful mind, the body experiences deep relaxation and

    [page 3]
    tranquility. And with the body becoming so relaxed and tranquil, one feels blissful. And when
    the Bhikkhu experiences such bliss, his heart becomes collected and stable.
    “Now, Bhikkhus, this is the fourth of the five ways of attaining Release, wherein the Bhikkhu,
    while dedicating himself to the Training with diligence and resoluteness, comes to experience
    liberation as his unreleased heart becomes fully released, where his heart’s contaminants
    (āsavas) are finally depleted, as he finally accomplishes that which, up to that point, had not yet
    been accomplished, reaching the farther shore of ultimate security, beyond the reach of
    suffering’s yoke.
    5. “Finally, Bhikkhus, even in the absence of the Teacher or a fellow companion in the Holy Life
    to instruct the Bhikkhu in the eminent capacity of a teacher, while the Bhikkhu himself is also
    unable to teach the Dhamma to others, in detail, and furthermore, he is neither able to recite the
    Dhamma in detail nor carefully examine or investigate the Dhamma within the heart, in detail,
    the Bhikkhu, however, is able to dedicate his attention and maintain it on one particular object of
    meditation, and as a result, he becomes well established in it. This eventually allows him to
    penetrate it, whereby he finally comes to see with wisdom, which leads him to experience and
    understand the deeper levels of the Dhamma, personally.
    “Being inspired thus, he suddenly feels much delight. And in the presence of such delight, joy
    arises within him, and for one with such a joyful mind, the body experiences deep relaxation and
    tranquility. And with the body becoming so relaxed and tranquil, one feels blissful. And when
    the Bhikkhu experiences such bliss, his heart becomes collected and stable.
    “Now, Bhikkhus, this is the fifth of the five ways of attaining Release, wherein the Bhikkhu,
    while dedicating himself to the Training with diligence and resoluteness, comes to experience
    liberation as his unreleased heart becomes fully released, where his heart’s contaminants
    (āsavas) are finally depleted, as he finally accomplishes that which, up to that point, had not yet
    been accomplished, reaching the farther shore of ultimate security, beyond the reach of
    suffering’s yoke.
    “Therefore, Bhikkhus, these are the five ways of attaining Release, wherein the Bhikkhu, while
    dedicating himself to the Training with diligence and resoluteness, comes to experience
    liberation as his unreleased heart becomes fully released, where his heart’s contaminants
    (āsavas) are finally depleted, as he finally accomplishes that which, up to that point, had not yet
    been accomplished, reaching the farther shore of ultimate security, beyond the reach of
    suffering’s yoke.”

    Sādhu

    Sādhu

    Sādhu

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