What Is Citta-Vimutti?

Mental liberation is the state of the mind being free from the bondage of afflictions; without afflictions, there is no suffering, and without suffering, the mind attains liberation. Suffering is divided into physical suffering and mental suffering. Physical suffering does not constitute true suffering; only mental suffering is genuine suffering. As long as the mind is not afflicted, one is liberated. Similarly, even when the body experiences suffering, if one does not regard physical suffering as significant, the mind remains unafflicted and liberated. If one perceives physical suffering as truly painful, the mind becomes afflicted and fails to attain liberation. If one voluntarily endures physical suffering, considering it insignificant or meaningful and necessary to bear, the mind remains unafflicted and may even experience joy. If physical suffering is endured involuntarily, under compulsion, the mind also becomes afflicted. Suffering or non-suffering lies in the mind, not the body; it depends on the mind’s perception of suffering. If the mind clings to suffering, there is affliction; if it does not cling, there is no suffering. When one experiences suffering without mental affliction, the mind is liberated; when one experiences suffering with mental affliction, the mind is bound.

An Arhat, daily begging for alms from house to house, does not feel suffering, whereas an ordinary person complains after merely preparing a meal. Purna, when failing to obtain food and receiving cow dung instead, felt no suffering, his mind liberated. A wealthy person, indulging in delicacies daily, finds no joy in the mind, severely bound by afflictions. Since suffering and joy vary from person to person, they have no fixed nature. Having no fixed nature, they are illusory, impermanent, and empty; thus, suffering and joy are devoid of self.