A Mind Released
Now there is a mind that is released and a mind that is not released. These are the
15th and 16th states of mind. A mind is released at various states of mind. We can
have a temporary release of mind. For instance, when we meditate and tranquilise
the five hindrances, there is a temporary release of mind. If there is no such
release, the mind is not released. So at the lowest level, the first experience
of release that you can have is a mind that is temporarily released from the five
hindrances. So when the mind is in SamŒdhi, there is a release from the five
hindrances. Then there is a higher form of release. In this Path of Insight and
Wisdom, when you attain to the four fruits of the Path, at each of these stages
there is a release from the defilements, from the fetters. There are 10 fetters
which bring about suffering. They are
(i) personality view
(ii) adherence to rites and rituals
(iii) doubt
(iv) desire for the pleasures of the senses
(v) aversion
(vi) desire for form
(vii) desire for the formless
(viii) the inherent tendency towards “I making” and “mine making” or is conceiving
(ix) restlessness
(x) ignorance
These are the 10 fetters. These 10 fetters are destroyed in 3 stages. The first
state of uprootment is at “Sovan Pala”, at the foot of stream winning. At that time,
3 of these fetters are destroyed. They are personality
view, adherence to rites
and rituals and doubt.
So the second stage of fruition (Sakrudagami), that is in the Four Fruits of the Path,
there is no fetter that is destroyed, but at the 3rd stage of Anagami or Non-Returner,
two further fetters are destroyed, which I mentioned earlier, that is the desire for
the pleasures of the senses and aversion. As a result he has found release from five
fetters.
So the other 5 fetters, the desire for the states of concentration, both of form and
formless, the inherent tendency towards conceiving, restlessness and ignorance are
destroyed only by an Arahant. That means by a Journey Ender. He has come to the end
of his births and he is released from all these 10 fetters. So that is the highest
release.
So this is the highest liberation, this is the highest release. Release from these
10 fetters. There is no more to be done. There is nothing higher or more supreme
than such a state.