Friends:

  Mental Release comes by Understanding!

The Blessed Buddha once explained the chain of causal events:
Association with a Great Man completes hearing the True Dhamma..
Hearing the true Dhamma completes Faith, Confidence and Conviction..
Faith, confidence and conviction completes Rational Attention..
Rational attention completes Mindfulness and Clear Comprehension..
Mindfulness and clear comprehension completes Guarding the Senses..
Guarding the senses completes good mental, verbal and bodily Behaviour..
Good modes of action completes the Four Foundations of Awareness..
The 4 foundations of Awareness completes the 7 Links to Awakening..
The 7 links to Awakening completes Mental Release by Understanding!

Details are outlined here:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Dhamma_Contemplation.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Lay_Faith.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Careful_and_Rational_Attention.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Clear_Comprehension.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Guarding_the_Sense_Doors.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Guarding_the_Senses.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Five_Basics.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Four_Foundations_of_Awareness.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Seven_Links_to_Awakening.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Understanding_is_the_Chief.htm

More on Mental Release (Vimokkha, Vimutti): The_8_Deliverances,
Freed by Knowing, Fulfilling_Release_by_Wisdom, Self-Control_Releases

More on the supreme Understanding Ability:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Freed_by_Knowing.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_Chief_Ability.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/n_r/pannaa.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Right_Understanding.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Understanding_is_the_Chief.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Supreme_Understanding.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Revealing_Understanding.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_Understanding_Ability.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Outstanding_Understanding.htm

Source:
The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: Anguttara Nikāya V 115

Released by Understanding!

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Updated: 20 December 2010  http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Freed_by_Knowing.htm