[169] Bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu whose taints (āsava) are destroyed, who has lived the life, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, reached his own true goal, utterly destroyed the fetters (saṃyojana) of existence, and is rightly liberated through final knowledge, this is the answer that accords with the Dhamma: 'Friend, having known form (rūpa) to be powerless, subject to fading away, and unreliable (anassāsika), with regard to form — whatever graspings through clinging (upādāya upādānā), whatever mental standpoints, adherences, and underlying tendencies (cetaso adhiṭṭhānābhinivesānusayā) there are — through their destruction, fading away, cessation, giving up, and relinquishing, I understand: "My mind (citta) is liberated." Having known feeling (vedanā), friend, … Having known perception (saññā), friend, … Having known volitional formations (saṅkhārā), friend, … Having known consciousness (viññāṇa), friend, to be powerless, subject to fading away, and unreliable, with regard to consciousness — whatever graspings through clinging, whatever mental standpoints, adherences, and underlying tendencies there are — through their destruction, fading away, cessation, giving up, and relinquishing, I understand: "My mind is liberated." It is for me who knows thus, friend, who sees thus, that the mind is liberated from the taints through not clinging with regard to these five aggregates subject to clinging (upādānakkhandhā).'
Bhikkhus, that bhikkhu's statement should be delighted in and rejoiced in with the word 'Good!' Having delighted in and rejoiced in his statement with the word 'Good!', a further question should be asked: 'Friend, these six elements (dhātu) have been rightly proclaimed by that Blessed One who knows and sees, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One. What six? The earth element, the water element, the fire element, the air element, the space element, and the consciousness element. These, friend, are the six elements rightly proclaimed by that Blessed One who knows and sees, the Arahant, the Perfectly Enlightened One. But how does the venerable one know, how does he see, such that with regard to these six elements his mind is liberated from the taints through not clinging?'
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.