[170] Bhikkhus, for a bhikkhu whose taints (āsava) are destroyed, who has lived the life fully, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, attained his own true goal, utterly destroyed the fetter of existence, and is rightly liberated through final knowledge, this answer is in accordance with the Dhamma:
'Friends, I have regarded the earth element (paṭhavīdhātu) as not-self (anattā), and I have not regarded a self as dependent on the earth element. And whatever graspings by clinging (upādāna) dependent on the earth element there are, whatever mental standpoints, adherences, and underlying tendencies (anusaya) — with the destruction, fading away, cessation (nirodha), giving up, and relinquishing of these, I understand: "My mind (citta) is liberated."
'The water element (āpodhātu), friends, I ... the fire element (tejodhātu), friends, I ... the air element (vāyodhātu), friends, I ... the space element (ākāsadhātu), friends, I ... The consciousness element (viññāṇadhātu), friends, I have regarded as not-self, and I have not regarded a self as dependent on the consciousness element. And whatever graspings by clinging dependent on the consciousness element there are, whatever mental standpoints, adherences, and underlying tendencies — with the destruction, fading away, cessation, giving up, and relinquishing of these, I understand: "My mind is liberated."
'For me knowing thus, friends, seeing thus, with regard to these six elements (dhātu), through not clinging my mind is liberated from the taints.'
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 internal and external sense bases (āyatana) have been rightly proclaimed by that Blessed One who knows and sees, the Arahant, the Fully Self-Awakened One. What six? The eye and forms, the ear and sounds, the nose and odours, the tongue and tastes, the body and tangibles, the mind and dhammas. These, friend, are the six internal and external sense bases rightly proclaimed by that Blessed One who knows and sees, the Arahant, the Fully Self-Awakened One. How does the venerable one know, how does he see, so that with regard to these six internal and external sense bases, through not clinging, his mind is liberated from the taints?'
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.