Mahaparinibbanasuttam (DN 16) - Ancient Buddhist Texts

Aṭṭha kho ime Ānanda vimokkhā.
There are, Ānanda, eight liberations.
Katame aṭṭha?
Which eight?
1) Rūpī rūpāni passati.
One having form sees forms.
Ayaṁ paṭhamo vimokkho.
This is the first liberation. 145
The Third Chapter for Recitation - 116
[22: Aṭṭha Vimokkhā] 144
[The Eight Liberations]
2) Ajjhattaṁ arūpasaññī bahiddhā rūpāni passati.
Not perceiving forms internally, he sees forms externally.
Ayaṁ dutiyo vimokkho.
This is the second liberation. 146
3) Subhanteva adhimutto hoti.
One is intent on endless beauty. 147
Ayaṁ tatiyo vimokkho.
This is the third liberation.
4) Sabbaso rūpasaññānaṁ samatikkamā, paṭighasaññānaṁ atthaṅgamā,
Having completely transcended perceptions of form, with the disappearance of
perceptions of (sensory) impact,
nānattasaññānaṁ amanasikārā: ‘Ananto ākāso’ ti,
not attending to perceptions of variety, (understanding): ‘This is endless space’,
ākāsānañcāyatanaṁ upasampajja viharati.
he abides in the sphere of endless space. 148
144 cf. Mahānidānasuttaṁ (DN 15); Saṅgītisuttaṁ (DN 33); Dasuttarasuttaṁ (DN 34);
Vimokkhasuttaṁ (AN Bk. 8:66); Mahāsakuludāyisuttaṁ (MN 77).
145 These liberations refer to the progress through the states of meditative absorption (jhāna).
The first three listed are attained through developing the first four meditative absorptions.
146 These first two are like a summary of the Abhibhāyatanā.
147 Through developing one of the Brahmāvihāra (mettā, karuṇā, muditā, upekkhā) meditations to
absorption level.
148 This and the three that follow are the spheres of concentration developed through refinement
of the fourth absorption.