Things That Lead to the Liberation of Mind

Meghiya, when liberation of mind has not developed, five things lead to its development.

What five?

(1) Here, Meghiya, a Monk has wholesome friends, wholesome companions, wholesome comrades. When liberation of mind has not developed, this is the first thing that leads to its development.

(2) Again, a Monk is virtuous (practicing moral conduct); he resides restrained by the training guidelines, possessed of wholesome conduct and determination, seeing danger in slightest faults. Having undertaken the training guidelines, he trains in them. When liberation of mind has not developed, this is the second thing that leads to its development.

(3) Again, a Monk gets to hear at will, without trouble or difficulty, talk concerned with the holy life that is conducive to opening up the heart, that is, talk on elimination of desires, on contentment, on solitude, on getting bound up (with others), on arousing energy, virtuous behavior, on concentration, on wisdom, on liberation, on the wisdom and vision of liberation. When liberation of mind has not developed, this is the third thing that leads to its development.

(4) Again, a Monk has aroused energy for abandoning unwholesome qualities and acquiring wholesome qualities; he is strong, firm in effort, not casting off the duty of cultivating wholesome qualities. When liberation of mind has not developed, this is the fourth thing that leads to its development.

(5) Again, a Monk is wise; he possesses the wisdom that discerns arising and passing away, which is noble and penetrative, and leads to the complete destruction of discontentedness. When liberation of mind has not developed, this is the fifth thing that leads to its development.

When, Meghiya, a Monk has wholesome friends, wholesome companions, wholesome comrades, it can be predicted of him that he will be virtuous (practice of moral conduct), one who resides restrained by the training guidelines ... will train in them.

When a Monk has wholesome friends, wholesome companions, wholesome comrades, it can be predicted of him that he will get to hear at will, without trouble or difficulty, talk concerned with the holy life that is conducive to opening up the heart, that is, talk on elimination of desires ... on the wisdom and vision of liberation.

When a Monk has wholesome friends, wholesome companions, wholesome comrades, it can be predicted of him that he will arouse energy for abandoning unwholesome qualities ... not casting off the duty of cultivating wholesome qualities.

When a Monk has wholesome friends, wholesome companions, wholesome comrades, it can be predicted of him that he will be wise, possessing the wisdom that discerns arising and passing away, which is noble and penetrative and leads to the complete destruction of discontentedness.

Having based himself on these five things, the Monk should develop further (another) four things.

(1) (The perception of) unattractiveness of the body should be developed to abandon lust.

(2) Loving-kindness should be developed to abandon ill will.

(3) Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) should be developed to cut off thoughts.

(4) The perception of impermanence should be developed to eradicate the conceit ‘I am’. When one perceives impermanence, the perception of non-self is stabilized. One who perceives non-self, eradicates the conceit ‘I am’, (which is) Nibbāna (Enlightenment) in this very life.

(Reference: AN 9.3)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares a combination of Teachings that have been previously explained. You can see the previous Chapters of this book for an explanation of these Teachings.

This Teaching shares that if the mind is not yet liberated (i.e. Enlightened), these are aspects of development of one’s life practice that need to be developed to attain Enlightenment.