Vimokkha Sutta
“Monks,
There are these eight unbindings. [1]
What eight?
(1) One sees matter as [only] matter. [2]
This is the first unbinding.
(2) One considers oneself as not [constituted of] matter;
One sees matter as external. [3]
This is the second unbinding.
(3) One is bent upon the Beautiful. [4]
This is the third unbinding.
(4) Leaving behind all physical awareness, [5]
With the gradual fading of sensory impingement,
Not paying attention to the perception of multiplicity, [6]
Experiencing endless spaciousness”
One understands and abides in the plane of Endless Spaciousness.
This is the fourth unbinding.
(5) Leaving behind all sense of Endless Spaciousness,
Experiencing endless consciousness,
One understands and abides
in the plane of Endless Consciousness.
This is the fifth unbinding.
(6) Leaving behind all sense of Endless Consciousness,
Aware of nothing [in particular],
One understands and abides
in the plane of Bare Awareness.
This is the sixth unbinding.
(7) Leaving behind all sense of Bare Awareness,
One understands and abides
in the plane between awareness and its release.
This is the seventh unbinding.
(8) Leaving behind all sense of the plane between awareness and its release,
One understands and abides
in the Release from Experiential Awareness. [7]
This is the eighth unbinding.
“Monks, these are the eight unbindings.”
[1] Vimokkha (& Vimokha) [fr. vi+muc, cp. mokkha1] deliverance, release, emancipation, dissociation from the things of the world.
[2] Rūpī rūpāni passati.
[3] Ajjhattaṃ arūpasaññī, bahiddhā rūpāni passati.
[4] Subhanteva adhimutto hoti. Adhimutta (adj.) [pp. of adhimuccati, cp. BSk. adhimukta.] intent upon, applying oneself to, keen on, inclined to, given to. Adhimutti (f.) [adhi + mutti] resolve, intention, disposition. Subha: The Beautiful, State equivalent to the 3rd and 4th jhāna. The pleasant abiding of the Ariyas, the awakened people where the bliss of steady awareness prevails over scattered mental grossness. Fore more suttas on the beautiful see SN II 14.11 Sattadhātu Sutta – Seven Elements, SN V 46.54 Mettāsahagata Sutta – Filled with Love, DN 16 Mahānidāna Sutta, MN 137 Saḷāyatanavibhaṅgha Sutta.
[5] Samatikkama (adj.) [saṁ+atikamma] passing beyond, overcoming. Samatikkamati [saṁ+atikkamati] to cross over, to transcend
[6] In short, strong mental unity.
[7] saññāvedayitanirodhaṃ upasampajja viharati.
