Reading Bhikkhu Bodhi's article What Does It Mean To Be Enlightened, it occurred to me that the terms awakened, liberated, perfected and nibanna do not all point to the same thing. There is a difference which can be explained by comparing them to the Buddha's three conditions of enlightenment.
"What has to be known, that I have known;" - such is awakened
"What has to be abandoned, that I have abandoned;" - such is liberated
"What has to be developed, that I have developed;" - such is perfected in the paramis; abiding in the Brahma Viharas
"Therefore, O brahmin, I am a Buddha" - such is enlightened; gone beyond; being awakened, liberated and perfected, he has attained to nibanna here and now
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