Developing and Cultivating Five Things (Fourth Discourse)

Monks, these five things, when developed and cultivated, have liberation of mind as their fruit, liberation of mind as their fruit and benefit; they have liberation by wisdom as their fruit, liberation by wisdom as their fruit and benefit.

What five?

Here, a Monk resides reflecting on the unattractiveness of the body, perceiving the dissatisfaction of food, perceiving non-excitement in the entire world, reflecting on impermanence in all conditioned objects; and he has the perception of death well established internally.

These five things, when developed and cultivated, have liberation of mind as their fruit, liberation of mind as their fruit and benefit; they have liberation by wisdom as their fruit, liberation by wisdom as their fruit and benefit.

When a Monk is liberated in mind and liberated by wisdom, he is called a Monk who has removed the crossbar, filled in the moat, pulled out the pillar, a boltless one, a Noble One with banner lowered, with burden dropped, unaffected.

And how has a Monk removed the crossbar?

Here, a Monk has abandoned ignorance (unknowing of true reality), cut it off at the root, made it like a palm stump, obliterated it so that it is no more subject to future arising. It is in this way that a Monk has removed the crossbar.

And how has a Monk filled in the moat?

Here, a Monk has abandoned the wandering on in birth that brings renewed existence; he has cut it off at the root, made it like a palm stump, obliterated it so that it is no more subject to future arising. It is in this way that a Monk has filled in the moat.

And how has a Monk pulled out the pillar?

Here, a Monk has abandoned craving, cut it off at the root, made it like a palm stump, obliterated it so that it is no more subject to future arising. It is in this way that a Monk has pulled out the pillar.

And how is a Monk a boltless one?

Here, a Monk has abandoned the five lower fetters, cut them off at the root, made them like a palm stump, obliterated them so that they are no more subject to future arising. It is in this way that a Monk is a boltless one.

And how is a Monk a Noble One with banner lowered, with burden dropped, unaffected?

Here, a Monk has abandoned the conceit ‘I am’, cut it off at the root, made it like a palm stump, obliterated it so that it is no more subject to future arising. It is in this way that a Monk is a Noble One with banner lowered, with burden dropped, unaffected.

(Reference: AN 5.71)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares a similar but different Teaching as those shared in the previous Chapters. The Buddha often shared Teachings in various settings and adjusted the wording slightly based on those whom he was teaching or in some cases, adds a significant amount of detail beyond what he has shared in other Teachings. He customized The Teaching for the uniqueness of the audience who gathered.

Additionally, he also layered his Teachings exposing more and more of The Path to Enlightenment as Students requested deeper understanding. It is not possible to provide all The Teachings that lead to Enlightenment in just one discourse, one book, or one learning setting. So instead, The Buddha gradually exposed more and more of The Teachings that lead to Enlightenment as Students sought more guidance to deepen their understanding.

This Teaching, while similar to the previous Chapters, shares additional Teachings that add to what was shared in the previous Chapters.

The Buddha explains that as a Practitioner liberates the mind to attain Enlightenment through wisdom, he is called one who “has removed the crossbar, filled in the moat, pulled out the pillar, a boltless one, a Noble One with banner lowered, with burden dropped, unaffected”. He then proceeds to provide details to describe each of these.