AN 9.44 Pannavimutti Sutta

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AN 9.44 Pannavimutti Sutta : Released Through Discernment
(Udayin:) "'Released through discernment, released through discernment,' it is said. To what extent is one described by the Lord Buddha as released through discernment?"

(Ananda:) "There is the case, my friend, where a monk, withdrawn from sensuality, withdrawn from unskillful qualities, enters & remains in the first jhana/trance state: rapture & pleasure born from withdrawal, accompanied by directed thought & discernment. And he knows it through discernment. It is to this extent that one is described by the Lord Buddha as released through discernment, though with a sequel.

"Furthermore, with the stilling of directed thoughts & discernments, he enters & remains in the second jhana/trance state... the third jhana/trance state... the fourth jhana/trance state... the dimension of the infinitude of space... the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness... the dimension of nothingness... the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. And he knows it through discernment. It is to this extent that one is described by the Lord Buddha as released through discernment, though with a sequel.

"Furthermore, with the complete transcending of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, he enters & remains in the cessation of perception & feeling. And as he sees with discernment, the mental fermentations(ideas/thoughts) go to their total end. And he knows it through discernment. It is to this extent that one is described by the Lord Buddha as released through discernment without a sequel."

See also: AN9.43; AN9.45.