6.
The Discourse on the Bases for Liberation
26.
"There are, monks, these five planes of liberation, where for a monk dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, the unliberated mind becomes liberated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained is attained.
"Which five? Here, monks, the Teacher expounds the Teaching to a monk, or a certain fellow monk who takes the place of a teacher. In whatever way, monks, the Teacher expounds the Teaching to that monk, or a certain fellow monk who takes the place of a teacher, in that way he becomes one who experiences the meaning and one who experiences the Teaching in that teaching. For one who experiences the meaning and experiences the Teaching, gladness arises. In one who is gladdened, joy arises. When the mind is filled with joy, the body becomes calm. One whose body is calm feels happiness. The mind of one who is happy becomes concentrated. This, monks, is the first plane of liberation, where for a monk dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, the unliberated mind becomes liberated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained is attained.
"Furthermore, monks, the Teacher does not indeed expound the Teaching to a monk, nor does a certain fellow monk who takes the place of a teacher, but he expounds the Teaching in detail to others as he has heard it, as he has learned it. In whatever way, monks, a monk expounds the Teaching in detail to others as he has heard it, as he has learned it, in that way he becomes one who experiences the meaning and one who experiences the Teaching in that teaching. For one who experiences the meaning and experiences the Teaching, gladness arises. In one who is gladdened, joy arises. When the mind is filled with joy, the body becomes calm. One whose body is calm feels happiness. The mind of one who is happy becomes concentrated. This, monks, is the second plane of liberation, where for a monk dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, the unliberated mind becomes liberated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained is attained.
"Furthermore, monks, the Teacher does not indeed expound the Teaching to a monk, nor does a certain fellow monk who takes the place of a teacher, nor does he expound the Teaching in detail to others as he has heard it, as he has learned it, but he recites the Teaching in detail as he has heard it, as he has learned it. In whatever way, monks, a monk recites the Teaching in detail as he has heard it, as he has learned it, in that way he becomes one who experiences the meaning and one who experiences the Teaching in that teaching. For one who experiences the meaning and experiences the Teaching, gladness arises. In one who is gladdened, joy arises. When the mind is filled with joy, the body becomes calm. One whose body is calm feels happiness. The mind of one who is happy becomes concentrated. This, monks, is the third plane of liberation, where for a monk dwelling diligent, ardent, etc. freedom from bondage is attained.
"Furthermore, monks, the Teacher does not indeed expound the Teaching to a monk, nor does a certain fellow monk who takes the place of a teacher, nor does he expound the Teaching in detail to others as he has heard it, as he has learned it, nor does he recite the Teaching in detail as he has heard it, as he has learned it; but he reflects upon, examines, and mentally contemplates the Teaching as he has heard it, as he has learned it. In whatever way, monks, a monk reflects upon, examines, and mentally contemplates the Teaching as he has heard it, as he has learned it, in that way he becomes one who experiences the meaning and one who experiences the Teaching in that teaching. For one who experiences the meaning and experiences the Teaching, gladness arises. In one who is gladdened, joy arises. When the mind is filled with joy, the body becomes calm. One whose body is calm feels happiness. The mind of one who is happy becomes concentrated. This, monks, is the fourth plane of liberation, where for a monk dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, the unliberated mind becomes liberated, the mental corruptions that were not eliminated go to utter elimination, and the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained is attained.
"Furthermore, monks, the Teacher does not indeed expound the Teaching to a monk, nor does a certain fellow monk who takes the place of a teacher, nor does he expound the Teaching in detail to others as he has heard it, as he has learned it, nor does he recite the Teaching in detail as he has heard it, as he has learned it, nor does he reflect upon, examine, and mentally contemplate the Teaching as he has heard it, as he has learned it; but a certain sign of concentration has been rightly grasped by him, well attended to, well considered, thoroughly understood with wisdom. In whatever way, monks, a certain sign of concentration has been rightly grasped by a monk, well attended to, well considered, thoroughly understood with wisdom, in that way he becomes one who experiences the meaning and one who experiences the Teaching in that teaching. For one who experiences the meaning and experiences the Teaching, gladness arises. In one who is gladdened, joy arises. When the mind is filled with joy, the body becomes calm. One whose body is calm feels happiness. The mind of one who is happy becomes concentrated. This, monks, is the fifth plane of liberation where for a monk dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, the unliberated mind becomes liberated, or the mental corruptions that were not eliminated go to utter elimination, or the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained is attained.
"These, monks, are the five planes of liberation where for a monk dwelling diligent, ardent, and resolute, the unliberated mind becomes liberated, or the mental corruptions that were not eliminated go to utter elimination, or the unsurpassed freedom from bondage that was not attained is attained." The sixth.