Vimokṣamukha

vimokṣamukha (T. rnam thar sgo gsum རྣམ་ཐར་སྒོ་གསུམ་ C. jietuo men 解門), or "gateways to liberation," are three features or realities of all phenomena (dharmas), which, when contemplated, lead to liberation. They are:

1. emptiness (śūnyatā), or "absence of inherent existence (svabhava)"
2. signlessness (ānimitta), or "absence of characteristics (nimitta) "
3. wishlessness (apraṇihita), or "absences of wishes"

In brief, emptiness is characterized as the absence of inherent existence (svabhava), signlessness as the absence of mental images, and wishlessness as the absence of hopes and fears.

Generally understood, recognition of emptiness refers to correctly apprehending that the basis of the aggregates, elements, and sense fields is not real or permanent. The recognition of signlessness, or of the absence of characteristics, means that there is no conceptual identification of perceptions. Wishlessness is the absence of any wish, desire, or aspiration, even those directed towards buddhahood.

The three gateways of liberation are taught in both foundational Buddhism and in the Mahayana.

Explanation according to the Mahayana

According to the Mahayana, the correct meditation on these three principles is taught by the Buddha in the The Perfection of Wisdom in Eighteen Thousand Lines (Aṣṭadaśasāhasrikā prajñāpāramitā).

This sutra states:

“Furthermore, Subhūti, the Great Vehicle of bodhisattva great beings is this: the three meditative stabilizations that are the three gateways to liberation. What are the three? They are the emptiness meditative stabilization, the signless meditative stabilization, and the wishless meditative stabilization.

“What is the emptiness meditative stabilization? The stability of mind that understands analytically that all dharmas are empty of their own mark is the emptiness gateway to liberation called the emptiness meditative stabilization.

“What is the signlessness meditative stabilization? The stability of mind that understands analytically that all dharmas are without a causal sign is the signlessness gateway to liberation called the signlessness meditative stabilization.

“What is the meditative stabilization on the wishlessness? The stability of mind that understands analytically that all dharmas do not occasion anything is the wishlessness gateway to liberation called the wishlessness meditative stabilization.

“The meditative stabilizations that are those three gateways to liberation are the Great Vehicle of bodhisattva great beings. They should train in those three gateways to liberation.

Quotations

The Sutra of the Questions of Brahma states:

All phenomena have the nature of emptiness, beyond conceptual reference.

All phenomena have the nature of characterlessness, beyond conceptual thought.

All phenomena have the nature of wishlessness, beyond acceptance and rejection.

Alternative translations

• three gates of emancipation
• three doors of deliverance
• three approaches to liberation (Dorje & Kapstein)
• three avenues/doorways to liberation
• three doors of perfect liberation (Padmakara in Treasury of Precious Qualities)
• gates to deliverance (Princeton Dictionary)

Further reading

• Kangyur Rinpoche, Treasury of Precious Qualities (Boston: Shambhala, 2001), Appendix 10, pp. 347-8
• Robert E. Buswell Jr., Donald S. Lopez Jr., The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism (Princeton: 2014), s.v. vimokṣamukha

External links

• The Excellent Path of the Great Vehicle: How to Meditate on the Three Gateways to Liberation According to the Mahayana by Rongtön Sheja Kunrig, Lotsawa House
• Three doors to liberation, Samye Institute
• Thich Nhat Hanh - What Are The Three Doors Of Liberation?