A series of advanced states of meditation above the four meditations (dhyāna) that imply greater liberation or freedom from the material realm of reality, as well as a general term for such higher meditative states.

Liberation from cyclic existence. See “three liberations” and “eight liberations.”

The state of freedom from suffering and saṃsāra that is the goal of the Buddhist path.

In its most general sense, this term refers to the state of freedom from suffering and saṃsāra that is the goal of the Buddhist path. More specifically, the term may refer to a category of advanced meditative attainment such as those of the “eight liberations.”

Eight such accomplishments are traditionally enumerated: the liberation of form observing form, the liberation of the formless observing form, the liberation of observing beauty, the liberation of infinite space, the liberation of infinite consciousness, the liberation of nothing whatsoever, the liberation of neither presence nor absence of perception, and the liberation of cessation. (Note that “liberation” has also been used to render rnam par grol ba).

See Hayal 1978: 229.

A category of advanced meditative attainments.

In general, freedom from rebirth and its causes, and in this text and others the fourth of five qualities of the Saṅgha that are also described in other texts as the five undefiled (or beyond-worldly) aggregates (skandha) characteristic of noble ones.

Release or deliverance from saṃsāra.

The eight kinds of liberation refer to eight meditative states: (1) the perception of material form by one who has form; (2) the perception of material form by one without form; (3) the beautiful; (4) infinite space; (5) infinite consciousness; (6) nothingness; (7) neither perception nor absence of perception; and (8) the cessation of perception and feeling.

This can include any method for liberation. There are numerous liberations described in this sūtra, each kalyāṇamitra having a specific liberation.

In certain contexts this is a term for a method for attaining liberation. There is a traditional list of eight: liberation through (1) seeing that which has form as form (perceiving dependent origination, etc.), (2) seeing the formless as form (perceiving emptiness, etc., as dependent origination), (3) beauty (perceiving emptiness as beautiful), (4) the formless meditation of infinite space, (5) the formless meditation of infinite consciousness, (6) the formless meditation of nothingness, (7) the formless meditation of neither perception nor nonperception, and (8) cessation.

Though not explicit in this text, this may be a reference to eight stages to liberation (aṣṭavimokṣa; rnam par thar pa brgyad), a series of increasingly subtle states of meditative realization or attainment. There are several presentations of these found in the canonical literature. One of the most common is as follows: (1) One observes form while the mind dwells at the level of the form realm. (2) One observes forms externally while discerning formlessness internally. (3) One dwells in the direct experience of the body’s pleasant aspect. (4) One dwells in the realization of the sphere of infinite space by transcending all conceptions of matter, resistance, and diversity. (5) Transcending the sphere of infinite space, one dwells in the realization of the sphere of infinite consciousness. (6) Transcending the sphere of infinite consciousness, one dwells in the realization of the sphere of nothingness. (7) Transcending the sphere of nothingness, one dwells in the realization of the sphere of neither perception nor nonperception. (8) Transcending the sphere of neither perception and nonperception, one dwells in the realization of the cessation of conception and feeling.

This can include any method for liberation. The most common list is of eight liberations: (1) form viewing form, the view of dependent origination and emptiness; (2) the formless viewing form, having seen internal emptiness, seeing the emptiness of external forms; (3) the view of the pleasant, seeing pleasant appearances as empty and contemplating the unpleasant; (4) seeing the emptiness of the formless meditation of infinite space; (5) seeing the emptiness of the formless meditation of infinite consciousness; (6) seeing the emptiness of the formless meditation of nothingness; (7) seeing the emptiness of the formless meditation of neither perception nor nonperception; (8) seeing the emptiness of the state of cessation.

This can include any method for liberation. The most commonly listed are the eight liberations: (1) form viewing form: the view of dependent origination and emptiness; (2) the formless viewing form: having seen internal emptiness, seeing the emptiness of external forms; (3) the view of the pleasant: seeing pleasant appearances as empty and contemplating the unpleasant; (4) seeing the emptiness of the formless meditation of infinite space; (5) seeing the emptiness of the formless meditation of infinite consciousness; (6) seeing the emptiness of the formless meditation of nothingness; (7) seeing the emptiness of the formless meditation of neither perception nor nonperception; and (8) seeing the emptiness of the state of cessation.

In this context, this refers to a category of advanced meditative attainments.

In this context, this refers to a category of advanced meditative attainments.

In this context, this refers to a category of advanced meditative attainments.

In its most general sense, this term refers to the state of freedom from suffering and cyclic existence, or saṃsāra, that is the goal of the Buddhist path. More specifically, the term may refer to a category of advanced meditative attainment known as the “eight deliverances”; for an explanation of these, see UT22084-029-001-1102 and UT22084-029-001-4868.

In its most general sense, this term refers to the state of freedom from suffering and cyclic existence, or saṃsāra, that is the goal of the Buddhist path. More specifically, the term may refer to a category of advanced meditative attainment known as the “eight deliverances.”

See “eight aspects of liberation.”