[509] In how many aspects do the three liberations (vimokkha) occur at different moments? In how many aspects do the three liberations occur at a single moment? The three liberations occur at different moments in four aspects; the three liberations occur at a single moment in seven aspects.
In which four aspects do the three liberations occur at different moments? In the sense of dominance (ādhipateyya), in the sense of steadying (adhiṭṭhāna), in the sense of directing forth (abhinīhāra), and in the sense of leading out (niyyāna).
How, in the sense of dominance, do the three liberations occur at different moments? For one attending [to formations] as impermanent, the signless liberation (animitta-vimokkha) is dominant; for one attending as suffering (dukkha), the desireless liberation (appaṇihita-vimokkha) is dominant; for one attending as not-self, the void liberation (suññata-vimokkha) is dominant. Thus, in the sense of dominance, the three liberations occur at different moments.
How, in the sense of steadying, do the three liberations occur at different moments? One attending as impermanent steadies the mind (citta) by means of the signless liberation; one attending as suffering steadies the mind by means of the desireless liberation; one attending as not-self steadies the mind by means of the void liberation. Thus, in the sense of steadying, the three liberations occur at different moments.
How, in the sense of directing forth, do the three liberations occur at different moments? One attending as impermanent directs the mind forth by means of the signless liberation; one attending as suffering directs the mind forth by means of the desireless liberation; one attending as not-self directs the mind forth by means of the void liberation. Thus, in the sense of directing forth, the three liberations occur at different moments.
How, in the sense of leading out, do the three liberations occur at different moments? One attending as impermanent leads out to cessation (nirodha), to Nibbāna, by means of the signless liberation; one attending as suffering leads out to cessation, to Nibbāna, by means of the desireless liberation; one attending as not-self leads out to cessation, to Nibbāna, by means of the void liberation. Thus, in the sense of leading out, the three liberations occur at different moments. In these four aspects the three liberations occur at different moments.
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.