SN41.7 — Godattasutta
At one time, Venerable Godatta was staying in the Ambātaka Forest in Macchikāsaṇḍa. Then Citta the householder approached Venerable Godatta, paid respects to him, and sat down to one side. While sitting to one side, Venerable Godatta said to Citta the householder:
Householder, the boundless liberation of mind, the liberation of mind through nothingness, the liberation of mind through emptiness, and the liberation of mind through signlessness: are these things different in meaning and different in phrasing, or are they one in meaning and different only in phrasing?
Venerable sir, there is a way in which these things are different in meaning and different in phrasing. But there is also a way in which these things are one in meaning and different only in phrasing.
What is the way, venerable sir, in which these things are different in meaning and different in phrasing?
Here, venerable sir, a disciple pervades one direction with a mind imbued with goodwill, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth.
Thus above, below, and all around, everywhere and in every respect, he pervades the entire world with a mind imbued with goodwill, abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without hostility, and without ill will.
He pervades one direction with a mind imbued with compassion... with a mind imbued with empathetic joy... with a mind imbued with equanimity, likewise the second, likewise the third, likewise the fourth.
Thus above, below, and all around, everywhere and in every respect, he pervades the entire world with a mind imbued with equanimity, abundant, exalted, immeasurable, without hostility, and without ill will. This is called the boundless liberation of mind.
What is the liberation of mind through nothingness? Here, venerable sir, a disciple, having completely transcended the base of infinite consciousness, aware that there is nothing, enters and dwells in the base of nothingness. This is called the liberation of mind through nothingness.
What is the liberation of mind through emptiness? Here, venerable sir, a disciple, gone to the forest, to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, reflects thus: This is empty of self or of what belongs to self. This is called the liberation of mind through emptiness.
What is the liberation of mind through signlessness? Here, venerable sir, a disciple, not attending to any signs, enters and dwells in the signless concentration of mind. This is called the liberation of mind through signlessness.
This, venerable sir, is the way in which these things are different in meaning and different in phrasing.
What is the way, venerable sir, in which these things are one in meaning and different only in phrasing?
Lust, venerable sir, is a maker of measurement, hatred is a maker of measurement, delusion is a maker of measurement.
These are abandoned by a disciple whose taints are destroyed, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated so that they are no more subject to future arising.
As far as there are boundless liberations of mind, the unshakable liberation of mind is declared the chief among them. That unshakable liberation of mind is empty of lust, empty of hatred, empty of delusion. Lust, venerable sir, is a something, hatred is a something, delusion is a something.
These are abandoned by a disciple whose taints are destroyed, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated so that they are no more subject to future arising. As far as there are liberations of mind through nothingness, the unshakable liberation of mind is declared the chief among them.
That unshakable liberation of mind is empty of lust, empty of hatred, empty of delusion. Lust, venerable sir, is a maker of signs, hatred is a maker of signs, delusion is a maker of signs. These are abandoned by a disciple whose taints are destroyed, cut off at the root, made like a palm stump, obliterated so that they are no more subject to future arising.
As far as there are liberations of mind through signlessness, the unshakable liberation of mind is declared the chief among them. That unshakable liberation of mind is empty of lust, empty of hatred, empty of delusion.
This, venerable sir, is the way in which these things are one in meaning and different only in phrasing.
Householder, you are fortunate, you are very fortunate, in that you have the eye of wisdom in the profound teachings of the Buddha.