Numbered Discourses 5.26

3. With Five Factors

Opportunities for Freedom

“Bhikkhus, there are these five opportunities for freedom. If a bhikkhu stays diligent, keen, and resolute at these times, their mind is freed, their defilements are ended, and they arrive at the supreme sanctuary from the yoke. What five?

Firstly, the Teacher or a respected spiritual companion teaches Dhamma to a bhikkhu. That bhikkhu feel deeply the meaning and the fundamental truth of that Dhamma, no matter how the Teacher or a respected spiritual companion teaches it. Feeling deeply these, joy springs up. Being delighted, (mental) joy springs up. When the mind is full of joy, the body becomes tranquil. When the body is tranquil, one feels (bodily) pleasure. And when pleased, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi. This is the first opportunity for freedom. If a bhikkhu stays diligent, keen, and resolute at this time, their mind is freed, their defilements are ended, and they arrive at the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.

Furthermore, it may be that neither the Teacher nor a respected spiritual companion teaches Dhamma to a bhikkhu. But the bhikkhu teaches Dhamma in detail to others as they learned and memorized it. That bhikkhu feels deeply the meaning and the fundamental truth of that Dhamma, no matter how they teach it in detail to others as they learned and memorized it. Feeling deeply these, joy springs up. Being delighted, (mental) joy springs up. When the mind is full of joy, the body becomes tranquil. When the body is tranquil, one feels (bodily) pleasure. And when pleased, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi. This is the second opportunity for freedom. …

Furthermore, it may be that neither the Teacher nor … the bhikkhu teaches Dhamma. But the bhikkhu recites the teaching in detail as they learned and memorized it. That bhikkhu feels deeply the meaning and the fundamental truth of that Dhamma, no matter how they recite it in detail as they learned and memorized it. Feeling deeply these, joy springs up. Being delighted, (mental) joy springs up. When the mind is full of joy, the body becomes tranquil. When the body is tranquil, one feels (bodily) pleasure. And when pleased, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi. This is the third opportunity for freedom. …

Furthermore, it may be that neither the Teacher nor … the bhikkhu teaches Dhamma … nor does the bhikkhu recite the teaching. But the bhikkhu thinks about and considers the teaching in their heart, examining it with the mind as they learned and memorized it. That bhikkhu feels deeply the meaning and the fundamental truth of that Dhamma, no matter how they think about and consider it in their heart, examining it with the mind as they learned and memorized it. Feeling deeply these, joy springs up. Being delighted, (mental) joy springs up. When the mind is full of joy, the body becomes tranquil. When the body is tranquil, one feels (bodily) pleasure. And when pleased, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi. This is the fourth opportunity for freedom. …

Furthermore, it may be that neither the Teacher nor … the bhikkhu teaches Dhamma … nor does the bhikkhu recite the teaching … or think about it. But a meditation subject as an object for samādhi is properly grasped, focused on, borne in mind, and comprehended with wisdom. That bhikkhu feels deeply the meaning and the fundamental truth of that Dhamma, no matter how a meditation subject as an object for samādhi is properly grasped, focused on, borne in mind, and comprehended with wisdom. Feeling deeply these, joy springs up. Being delighted, (mental) joy springs up. When the mind is full of joy, the body becomes tranquil. When the body is tranquil, one feels (bodily) pleasure. And when pleased, the mind becomes immersed in samādhi. This is the fifth opportunity for freedom. …

These are the five opportunities for freedom. If a bhikkhu stays diligent, keen, and resolute at these times, their mind is freed, their defilements are ended, and they arrive at the supreme sanctuary from the yoke.”