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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.

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“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

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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
