Vimutti — Liberation

This is part 13 of a course going through the similes and metaphors of the Buddha. Course home 1: Introduction to Imagery in the EBTs2: Taṇhā — Craving3: Rāga — Passion4: Vyāpāda — Hatred and Aversion5: Thīnamiddha — Sloth and Torpor6: Uddhaccakukkuca — Restlessness and Worry7: Vicikicchā — Doubt8: Vedanā — Feelings9: Vedanānupassanā — Investigating Feelings10: Sukha — Happiness11: Upekkhā — Equanimity12: Yathābhūtañāṇadassana — Knowledge and Vision of the Way Things Are13: Vimutti — Liberation14: Upādāna – Grasping15: Sakkāyadiṭṭhi - Self View16: Sammādiṭṭhi - Right View17: Saṅkhāra — Activity18: Vitakka — Thought19: Yoniso Manasikāra — Wise Attention20: Vipassanā — Insight21: Samatha & Vipassanā — Tranquility & Insight22: Samādhi — Immersion23: Viveka — Seclusion24: Vossagga — Letting Go25: Suññatā — Emptiness26: Conclusion

Illustration by Ayya Vimalayani aka "Ven Yodha"

The culmination of the path, vimutti is the heart at rest, liberated from the defilements.

Textbook

Read Chapter 12 of:

From Craving to Liberation: Excursions into the Thought-world of the Pāli Discourses Volume 1 – Bhikkhu Anālayo (.pdf)

Suttas

AN 10.81 Vāhana Sutta: With Bāhuna

AN 10.117 Saṅgārava Sutta: With Saṅgārava (.pdf)

AN 6.13 Nissāraṇīya Sutta: Elements of Escape (.pdf)

SN 12.27 Paccaya Sutta: Conditions

Thag 1.7 Bhalliya Theragāthā: Bhalliya’s Verse (.pdf)

Similes

Hecker similes: 34 and 69.

Reflections

The Buddha seems to have taken pains to stress the nobility of freedom. Why?

Continue to Part 14, Upādāna – Grasping

...or go back to part 12