The Distinction Between Ultimate Liberation and Provisional Liberation

The wisdom of liberation that transcends the entanglements of birth and death within the three realms is the same. However, the Buddha achieves ultimate liberation, not only transcending birth and death within the realm of differentiation but also transcending birth and death within the realm of transformation, with not the slightest ignorance binding their minds; thus, it is ultimate liberation. The liberation of Arhats is not yet ultimate, as they still possess ignorance and have not fully transcended birth and death within the realm of transformation. Wisdom-liberated Arhats must still await the exhaustion of worldly conditions to transcend the three realms and liberate themselves from birth and death, whereas fully-liberated Arhats do not need to await a specific time for liberation and can transcend the three realms and liberate themselves from birth and death at any moment.