The keyword in this sutta is “upaya.” It is closely related to the word “upādāna.” As I mentioned in the new post today, “upa” means “keeping close.”
– The word upaya means “having upādāna for the worldly things.”
– See, “Tanhā Paccayā Upādāna – Critical Step in Paticca Samuppāda”
The first phrase itself is highly condensed. “Upayo, bhikkhave, avimutto, anupayo vimutto“.
– Therefore, it means: “Bhikkhus, one who is attached (to this world or the aggregates) is not liberated; one who is not attached (who has removed tanhā) is liberated.
Then the sutta states that separately for the four aggregates: rūpa, vedana, saññā, saṅkhāra.
Next verse: Because one is attached to rūpa, one craves for rūpa, and one highly-values rūpa, the (kamma)viññāṇa grows and gets established.
– Then the verse is repeated for vedana, saññā, saṅkhāra.
Then the next verse says: “Bhikkhus, without such attachment and craving for rūpa, vedana, saññā, saṅkhāra it is not possible for viññāṇa to grow, get established, and to bring rebirth.
“Bhikkhus, if a bhikkhu has abandoned craving for rūpa, with the abandoning of lust the basis is cut off: there is no support for the establishment of (kamma)viññāṇa.
– Then the verse is repeated for vedana, saññā, saṅkhāra.
Final verse: “When that (kamma)viññāṇa is unestablished, not coming to growth, nongenerative, one is liberated. By being liberated, his mind is steady. By being steady, he is content. By being content, he is not agitated. Being unagitated, he attains Nibbāna. He understands: ‘Destroyed is rebirth, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more for this existence.’”