Vimutti

Meaning

One of the vectors of the Buddhist path can be pictured like this: virtue → concentration → wisdom → liberation (sīla - samādhi - paññā - vimutti).

Put simply: Nibbāna is what the path leads to; vimutti is what happens to the mind. It is released from a cage it largely built itself.

Two sides of liberation

Two expressions frequently stand side by side in the suttas:

• cetovimutti - liberation of mind; AN 2.31 connects it with the fading of lust
• paññāvimutti - liberation by wisdom, connected with the fading of ignorance

Cetovimutti can denote a temporary release of the mind from hindrances and defilements through meditation, or the final liberation of an arahant.

Hence the famous formula of arahantship comes as a pair: “liberation of mind free from taints, and liberation by wisdom.” At that level there is no longer a division into “samādhi here, wisdom there” - the fading of both lust and ignorance comes together in final liberation.

Temporary and unshakeable

Not every vimutti is final.

Deep concentration and certain other meditative attainments can bring about samayavimutti - temporary liberation. It lasts as long as the conditions under which defilements do not manifest are maintained, but it does not in itself mean their destruction.

By contrast, akuppā cetovimutti, “unshakeable liberation of mind,” is the irreversible liberation of an arahant. In MN 29 the Buddha calls exactly this the heartwood of the holy life:

• gain and honour - branches and leaves
• virtue - bark
• concentration - softwood
• knowledge and vision - sapwood
• the heartwood of the tree - unshakeable liberation of mind

Immeasurable and exalted

In MN 127 Anuruddha examines another non-obvious pair:

• appamāṇā cetovimutti - immeasurable liberation of mind, attained through the practice of the brahmavihāras, radiated without limit in all directions
• mahaggatā cetovimutti - exalted, “become great” liberation of mind, extended over a defined area: the size of a tree, a village, several villages and onward up to the whole earth

The commentaries explain that the second refers to the practice of jhānas using kasiṇas.

In practice

Final liberation is described in the suttas rather sparingly: “in one liberated there is the knowledge: liberated.” The mind simply drops a lifelong habit - clinging.

But liberation is not the preserve of arahants and is possible on a small scale. The moment you let go of a grievance you felt entitled to hold is a small rehearsal of letting go, and of understanding emptiness.