“Chayimā, bhikkhave, nissāraṇīyā dhātuyo. Katamā cha?
“Bhikkhus, there are six elements |leading to release::leading to freedom [nissāraṇīya]|. What six?
Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya: ‘mettā hi kho me cetovimutti bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā; atha ca pana me byāpādo cittaṁ pariyādāya tiṭṭhatī’ti. So ‘mā hevan’tissa vacanīyo: ‘māyasmā evaṁ avaca; mā bhagavantaṁ abbhācikkhi, na hi sādhu bhagavato abbhakkhānaṁ, na hi bhagavā evaṁ vadeyya. Aṭṭhānametaṁ, āvuso, anavakāso yaṁ mettāya cetovimuttiyā bhāvitāya bahulīkatāya yānīkatāya vatthukatāya anuṭṭhitāya paricitāya susamāraddhāya; atha ca panassa byāpādo cittaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassati, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Nissaraṇañhetaṁ, āvuso, byāpādassa yadidaṁ mettācetovimuttī’ti.
1.) Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu might say: ‘I have cultivated and frequently practiced the |release of mind::mental liberation, emancipation of heart, a meditation attainment [cetovimutti]| through |loving-kindness::goodwill, friendliness, benevolence [metta]|, made it a vehicle, a basis, firmly established, consolidated, and |resolutely undertaken it::fully engaged with, energetically taken up [susamāraddha]|, yet |ill will::intentional act of mentally opposing or rejecting others; an intentional construct fueled by aversion, directed against kindness or compassion. It manifests as hostility of will, impeding goodwill and fostering internal or external conflict. [byāpāda]| still |occupies::obsesses, controls [pariyādāya]| my mind.’ He should be told: ‘Don’t say that, friend. Don’t misrepresent the Blessed One, for it is not good to misrepresent the Blessed One. The Blessed One would certainly not speak in such a way. It is impossible and inconceivable, friend, that ill will should occupy the mind of one who has cultivated and frequently practiced the release of mind through loving-kindness, made it a vehicle, a basis, firmly established, consolidated, and resolutely undertaken it. There is no such possibility. For this, friend, is the escape from ill will, that is, the release of mind through loving-kindness.’
Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya: ‘karuṇā hi kho me cetovimutti bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā; atha ca pana me vihesā cittaṁ pariyādāya tiṭṭhatī’ti. So ‘mā hevan’tissa vacanīyo: ‘māyasmā evaṁ avaca; mā bhagavantaṁ abbhācikkhi, na hi sādhu bhagavato abbhakkhānaṁ, na hi bhagavā evaṁ vadeyya. Aṭṭhānametaṁ, āvuso, anavakāso yaṁ karuṇāya cetovimuttiyā bhāvitāya bahulīkatāya yānīkatāya vatthukatāya anuṭṭhitāya paricitāya susamāraddhāya; atha ca panassa vihesā cittaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassati, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Nissaraṇañhetaṁ, āvuso, vihesāya yadidaṁ karuṇācetovimuttī’ti.
2.) Here moreover, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu might say: ‘I have cultivated and frequently practiced the release of mind through |compassion::mental quality of wise empathy in response to suffering, which counters qualities of harm or cruelty [karuṇā]|, made it a vehicle, a basis, firmly established, consolidated, and resolutely undertaken it, yet |cruelty::malice, viciousness, brutality [vihesā]| still occupies my mind.’ He should be told: ‘Don’t say that, friend. Don’t misrepresent the Blessed One, for it is not good to misrepresent the Blessed One. The Blessed One would certainly not speak in such a way. It is impossible and inconceivable, friend, that cruelty should occupy the mind of one who has cultivated and frequently practiced the release of mind through compassion, made it a vehicle, a basis, firmly established, consolidated, and resolutely undertaken it. There is no such possibility. For this, friend, is the escape from cruelty, that is, the release of mind through compassion.’
Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya: ‘muditā hi kho me cetovimutti bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā; atha ca pana me arati cittaṁ pariyādāya tiṭṭhatī’ti. So ‘mā hevan’tissa vacanīyo: ‘māyasmā evaṁ avaca; mā bhagavantaṁ abbhācikkhi, na hi sādhu bhagavato abbhakkhānaṁ, na hi bhagavā evaṁ vadeyya. Aṭṭhānametaṁ, āvuso, anavakāso yaṁ muditāya cetovimuttiyā bhāvitāya bahulīkatāya yānīkatāya vatthukatāya anuṭṭhitāya paricitāya susamāraddhāya; atha ca panassa arati cittaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassati, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Nissaraṇañhetaṁ, āvuso, aratiyā yadidaṁ muditācetovimuttī’ti.
3.) Here moreover, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu might say: ‘I have cultivated and frequently practiced the release of mind through |appreciative joy::mental quality of rejoicing in the success and happiness of others, which counters envy [muditā]|, made it a vehicle, a basis, firmly established, consolidated, and resolutely undertaken it, yet |dissatisfaction::discontent, dislike, aversion, boredom [arati]| still occupies my mind.’ He should be told: ‘Don’t say that, friend. Don’t misrepresent the Blessed One, for it is not good to misrepresent the Blessed One. The Blessed One would certainly not speak in such a way. It is impossible and inconceivable, friend, that dissatisfaction should occupy the mind of one who has cultivated and frequently practiced the release of mind through appreciative joy, made it a vehicle, a basis, firmly established, consolidated, and resolutely undertaken it. There is no such possibility. For this, friend, is the escape from dissatisfaction, that is, the release of mind through appreciative joy.’
Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya: ‘upekkhā hi kho me cetovimutti bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā; atha ca pana me rāgo cittaṁ pariyādāya tiṭṭhatī’ti. So ‘mā hevan’tissa vacanīyo: ‘māyasmā evaṁ avaca; mā bhagavantaṁ abbhācikkhi, na hi sādhu bhagavato abbhakkhānaṁ, na hi bhagavā evaṁ vadeyya. Aṭṭhānametaṁ, āvuso, anavakāso yaṁ upekkhāya cetovimuttiyā bhāvitāya bahulīkatāya yānīkatāya vatthukatāya anuṭṭhitāya paricitāya susamāraddhāya; atha ca panassa rāgo cittaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassati, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Nissaraṇañhetaṁ, āvuso, rāgassa yadidaṁ upekkhācetovimuttī’ti.
4.) Here moreover, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu might say: ‘I have cultivated and frequently practiced the release of mind through |equanimity::mental poise, mental balance, equipoise, non-reactivity, composure [upekkhā]|, made it a vehicle, a basis, firmly established, consolidated, and resolutely undertaken it, yet |passion::intense desire, strong emotion, infatuation, obsession, lust [rāga]| still occupies my mind.’ He should be told: ‘Don’t say that, friend. Don’t misrepresent the Blessed One, for it is not good to misrepresent the Blessed One. The Blessed One would certainly not speak in such a way. It is impossible and inconceivable, friend, that passion should occupy the mind of one who has cultivated and frequently practiced the release of mind through equanimity, made it a vehicle, a basis, firmly established, consolidated, and resolutely undertaken it. There is no such possibility. For this, friend, is the escape from passion, that is, the release of mind through equanimity.’
Idha pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya: ‘animittā hi kho me cetovimutti bhāvitā bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā; atha ca pana me nimittānusāri viññāṇaṁ hotī’ti. So ‘mā hevan’tissa vacanīyo: ‘māyasmā evaṁ avaca; mā bhagavantaṁ abbhācikkhi, na hi sādhu bhagavato abbhakkhānaṁ, na hi bhagavā evaṁ vadeyya. Aṭṭhānametaṁ, āvuso, anavakāso yaṁ animittāya cetovimuttiyā bhāvitāya bahulīkatāya yānīkatāya vatthukatāya anuṭṭhitāya paricitāya susamāraddhāya; atha ca panassa nimittānusāri viññāṇaṁ bhavissati, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Nissaraṇañhetaṁ, āvuso, sabbanimittānaṁ yadidaṁ animittācetovimuttī’ti.
5.) Here moreover, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu might say: ‘I have cultivated and frequently practiced the release of mind through the |signless::featureless, free of mental images, without any sign of trouble [animitta]|, made it a vehicle, a basis, firmly established, consolidated, and resolutely undertaken it, yet my |consciousness::quality of awareness — distinctive knowing that arises in dependence on the meeting of eye and form, ear and sound, nose and odor, tongue and taste, body and tangible object, mind and mind object; fifth of the five aggregates [viññāṇa]| still follows after signs.’ He should be told: ‘Don’t say that, friend. Don’t misrepresent the Blessed One, for it is not good to misrepresent the Blessed One. The Blessed One would certainly not speak in such a way. It is impossible and inconceivable, friend, that the consciousness of one who has cultivated and frequently practiced the release of mind through the signless, made it a vehicle, a basis, firmly established, consolidated, and resolutely undertaken it would still follow after signs. There is no such possibility. For this, friend, is the escape from all signs, that is, the release of mind through the signless.’
Idha pana bhikkhave, bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya: ‘asmīti kho me vigataṁ, ayamahamasmīti ca na samanupassāmi; atha ca pana me vicikicchākathaṅkathāsallaṁ cittaṁ pariyādāya tiṭṭhatī’ti. So ‘mā hevan’tissa vacanīyo: ‘māyasmā evaṁ avaca; mā bhagavantaṁ abbhācikkhi, na hi sādhu bhagavato abbhakkhānaṁ, na hi bhagavā evaṁ vadeyya. Aṭṭhānametaṁ, āvuso, anavakāso yaṁ asmīti vigate ayamahamasmīti ca na samanupassato; atha ca panassa vicikicchākathaṅkathāsallaṁ cittaṁ pariyādāya ṭhassati, netaṁ ṭhānaṁ vijjati. Nissaraṇañhetaṁ, āvuso, vicikicchākathaṅkathāsallassa yadidaṁ asmīti mānasamugghāto’ti.
6.) Here moreover, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu might say: ‘The conceit “I am“ has been eradicated and I do not regard [anything as] “This I am,” yet the |dart of doubt and uncertainty::arrow of doubt and bewilderment [vicikicchākathaṅkathāsalla]| still occupies my mind. He should be told: ‘Don’t say that, friend. Don’t misrepresent the Blessed One, for it is not good to misrepresent the Blessed One. The Blessed One would certainly not speak in such a way. It is impossible and inconceivable, friend, that the dart of doubt and uncertainty should occupy the mind of one who has eradicated the conceit “I am” and does not regard [anything as] “This I am.” There is no such possibility. For this, friend, is the escape from the dart of doubt and uncertainty, that is, the uprooting of the conceit “I am.”’
Imā kho, bhikkhave, cha nissāraṇīyā dhātuyo”ti.
These, bhikkhus, are the six elements leading to release.”