Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra, Volume 34 (52)

Having correctly and truly discerned the characteristics of the truth of origin, one further correctly and truly discerns these four aspects of the truth of cessation. When the truth of origin is completely extinguished and ceases, it is called 'cessation' (nirodha); when the truth of origin no longer arises, suffering ceases. When all the suffering of the truth of suffering is extinguished without remainder, it becomes tranquil; there are no activities of the five aggregates creating suffering nor the five aggregates experiencing suffering, and this is called 'tranquility' (śānta). When the suffering of the truth of suffering is thus extinguished and tranquil, it is foremost in the world, supreme, unsurpassed, therefore it is called 'excellent' (praṇīta). After the suffering of the truth of suffering is extinguished without remainder, suffering can no longer arise; such a state is eternally abiding, eternally freed from suffering, therefore it is called 'escape' (niḥsaraṇa). Thus, the yogin discerns the characteristics of the truth of cessation through these four aspects: cessation, tranquility, excellence, and escape.

The characteristics of the truth of cessation are discerned through the four aspects of cessation, tranquility, excellence, and escape. Suffering ceases because the origin ceases; when the actions that lead to suffering cease, the bodily, verbal, and mental actions of the five-aggregate body are all actions leading to suffering, especially unwholesome and unskillful bodily, verbal, and mental actions. When the mind no longer clings to the dharmas of the five-aggregate world, it no longer accumulates suffering and attains tranquility. When the mind attains tranquility, it becomes liberated and free. In the world, this is wonderful and excellent, because the world is generally characterized by clinging and suffering, lacking tranquility, freedom, and liberation; thus, life is not excellent. A life of liberation and freedom is foremost and supremely excellent in the world, hence it is excellent. After the cessation of suffering and liberation, there will be no more experience of suffering; liberation is eternal liberation, never regressing to the state of ignorance and afflictions; it is an eternal escape from suffering, therefore it is called 'escape'. Thus, the characteristics of the truth of cessation are clearly revealed through these four aspects: cessation, tranquility, excellence, and escape.