In the first watch of the night, the Buddha recollected His past lives and observed the transition from one existence to another from life to life.

In the second watch, He realised the appearing and disappearing of other beings from one state of existence to another according to their ‘kamma’ (intentional action).

In the third watch, He realised that there is Suffering, the cause and cessation of Suffering, and the path leading to its cessation. He saw with clarity, the existence of the Corruptions, their arising and their total extinction from His mind. He attained true freedom from defilements.

With a fully awakened mind, He declared that there will no more rebirth and he has attained Nibbāna, liberation of greed, hatred, and ignorance.