Nibbàna Sermon 18

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammàsambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammàsambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammàsambuddhassa

Etaü santaü, etaü paõãtaü, yadidaü sabbasaïkhàra­samatho sabbåpadhipañinissaggo taõhakkhayo viràgo nirodho nibbànaü.[1]

"This is peaceful, this is excellent, namely the stilling of all prepa­rations, the relinquishment of all assets, the destruction of craving, detachment, cessation, extinction."

With the permission of the Most Venerable Great Preceptor and the assembly of the venerable meditative monks. This is the eight­eenth sermon in the series of sermons on Nibbàna.

We happened to mention, in our last sermon, that many of the dis­courses dealing with the subject of Nibbàna, have been misinter­preted, due to a lack of appreciation of the fact that the transcendence of the world and crossing over to the farther shore of existence have to be understood in a psychological sense.

The view that the arahant at the end of his life enters into an ab­solutely existing asaïkhata dhàtu, or `unprepared element', seems to have received acceptance in the commentarial period. In the course of our last sermon, we made it very clear that some of the discourses cited by the commentators in support of that view deal, on the con­trary, with some kind of realization the arahant goes through here and now, in this very life, in this very world - a realization of the ces­sation of existence, or the cessation of the six sense-spheres.

Even when the Buddha refers to the arahant as the Brahmin who, having gone beyond, is standing on the farther shore,[2] he was speak­ing of the arahant who has realized, in this very life, the influx-free deliverance of the mind and deliverance through wisdom, in his con­centration of the fruit of arahant-hood.

Therefore, on the strength of this evidence, we are compelled to elicit a subtler meaning of the concept of `this shore' and the `farther shore' from these discourses dealing with Nibbàna than is generally accepted in the world. Our sermon today is especially addressed to that end.

As we mentioned before, if one is keen on getting a solution to the problems relating to Nibbàna, the discourses we are now taking up for discussion might reveal the deeper dimensions of that prob­lem. We had to wind up our last sermon while drawing out the impli­ca­tions of the last line in the Paramaññhakasutta of the Sutta Ni­pà­ta: pàraügato na pacceti tàdi.[3] We drew the inference that the steadfast one, the arahant, who is such-like, once gone to the farther shore, does not come back.

We find, however, quite a different idea expressed in a verse of the Nàlakasutta in the Sutta Nipàta. The verse, which was the subject of much controversy among the ancients, runs as follows:

Uccàvàca hi pañipadà,

samaõena pakàsità,

na pàraü diguõaü yanti,

na idaü ekaguõaü mutaü.[4]

"High and low are the paths,

Made known by the recluse,

They go not twice to the farther shore,

Nor yet is it to be reckoned a going once."

The last two lines seem to contradict each other. There is no go­ing twice to the farther shore, but still it is not to be conceived as a going once.

Now, as for the first two lines, the high and low paths refer to the modes of practice adopted, according to the grades of understanding in different character types. For instances, the highest grade of per­sons attains Nibbàna by an easy path, being quick-witted, sukhà pañi­padà khippàbhi¤¤à, whereas the lowest grade attains it by a difficult path, being relatively dull-witted, dukkhà pañipadà dandhàbhi¤¤à. [5]

The problem lies in the last two lines. The commentary tries to tackle it by interpreting the reference to not going twice to the farther shore, na pàraü diguõaü yanti, as an assertion that there is no pos­si­bility of attaining Nibbàna by the same path twice, ekamaggena dvik­­khattuü nibbànaü na yanti.[6] The implication is that the supra­mun­dane path of a stream-winner, a once-returner or a non-returner arises only once. Why it is not to be conceived as a going once is ex­plained as an acceptance of the norm that requires not less than four supramundane paths to attain arahant-hood.

However, a deeper analysis of the verse in question would reveal the fact that it effectively brings up an apparent contradiction. The commentary sidetracks by resolving it into two different problems. The two lines simply reflect two aspects of the same problem.

They go not twice to the farther shore, and this not going twice, na idaü, is however not to be thought of as a `going once' either. The commentary sidetracks by taking idaü, `this', to mean the far­ther shore, pàraü, whereas it comprehends the whole idea of not going twice. Only then is the paradox complete.

In other words, this verse concerns the such-like one, the arahant, and not the stream-winner, the once-returner or the non-returner. Here we have an echo of the idea already expressed as the grand fi­nale of the Paramaññhakasutta: pàraügato na pacceti tàdi, [7] the such-like one, "gone to the farther shore, comes not back".

It is the last line, however, that remains a puzzle. Why is this `not going twice,' not to be thought of as a `going once'? There must be something deep behind this riddle.

Now, for instance, when one says `I won't go there twice', it means that he will go only once. When one says `I won't tell twice', it follows that he will tell only once. But here we are told that the arahant goes not twice, and yet it is not a going once.

The idea behind this riddle is that the influx-free arahant, the such-like-one, gone to the farther shore, which is supramundane, does not come back to the mundane. Nevertheless, he apparently comes back to the world and is seen to experience likes and dislikes, pleasures and pains, through the objects of the five senses. From the point of view of the worldling, the arahant has come back to the world. This is the crux of the problem.

Why is it not to be conceived of as a going once? Because the arahant has the ability to detach himself from the world from time to time and re-attain to that arahattaphalasamàdhi. It is true that he too experiences the objects of the five external senses, but now and then he brings his mind to dwell in that arahattaphalasamàdhi, which is like standing on the farther shore.

Here, then, we have an extremely subtle problem. When the ara­hant comes back to the world and is seen experiencing the objects of the five senses, one might of course conclude that he is actually `in the world'. This problematic situation, namely the question how the influx-free arahant, gone to the farther shore, comes back and takes in objects through the senses, the Buddha resolves with the help of a simple simile, drawn from nature. For instance, we read in the Jarà­sut­ta of the Sutta Nipàta the following scintillating lines.

Udabindu yathà pi pokkhare,

padume vàri yathà na lippati,

evaü muni nopalippati,

yadidaü diññhasutammutesu và.[8]

"Like a drop of water on a lotus leaf,

Or water that taints not the lotus petal,

So the sage unattached remains,

In regard to what is seen, heard and sensed."

So the extremely deep problem concerning the relation between the supramundane and the mundane levels of experience, is resolved by the Buddha by bringing in the simile of the lotus petal and the lo­tus leaf.

Let us take up another instance from the Màgandiyasutta of the Sutta Nipàta.

Yehi vivitto vicareyya loke,

na tàni uggayha vadeyya nàgo,

elambujaü kaõñakaü vàrijaü yathà,

jalena paükena anåpalittaü,

evaü munã santivàdo agiddho,

kàme ca loke ca anåpalitto.[9]

"Detached from whatever views, the arahant wanders in the

world,

He would not converse, taking his stand on them,

Even as the white lotus, sprung up in the water,

Yet remains unsmeared by water and mud,

So is the sage, professing peace and free from greed,

Unsmeared by pleasures of sense and things of the world."

Among the Tens of the Aïguttara Nikàya we come across a dis­course in which the Buddha answers a question put by Venerable Bà­huna. At that time the Buddha was staying near the pond Gaggara in the city of Campa. Venerable Bàhuna's question was:

Katãhi nu kho, bhante, dhammehi tathàgato nissaño visaüyutto vippamutto vimariyàdikatena cetasà viharati?[10] "Detached, disen­gaged and released from how many things does the Tathàgata dwell with an unrestricted mind?" The Buddha's answer to the question embodies a simile, aptly taken from the pond, as it were.

Dasahi kho, Bàhuna, dhammehi tathàgato nissaño visaüyutto vip­pamutto vimariyàdikatena cetasà viharati. Katamehi dasahi? Råpe­na kho, Bàhuna, Tathàgato nissaño visaüyutto vippamutto vi­mari­yà­di­katena cetasà viharati, vedanàya ... sa¤¤àya ... saïkhàrehi ... vi¤­¤à­õena ... jàtiyà ... jaràya ... maraõena ... dukkhehi ... kilesehi kho, Bàhuna, Tathàgato nissaño visaüyutto vippamutto vimariyà­di­katena cetasà viharati.

Seyyathàpi, Bàhuna, uppalaü và padumaü và puõóarãkaü và uda­ke jàtaü udake saüvaóóhaü udakà accugamma tiññhati anu­pa­lit­taü udakena, evam eva kho Bàhuna Tathàgato imehi dasahi dham­me­hi nissaño visaüyutto vippamutto vimariyàdikatena cetasà vi­ha­rati.

"Detached, disengaged and released from ten things, Bàhuna, does the Tathàgata dwell with a mind unrestricted. Which ten? De­tached, disengaged and released from form, Bàhuna, does the Tathà­gata dwell with a mind unrestricted; detached, disengaged and re­leased from feeling ... from perceptions ... from preparations .... from consciousness ... from birth ... from decay ... from death ... from pains ... from defilements, Bàhuna, does the Tathàgata dwell with a mind unrestricted.

Just as, Bàhuna, a blue lotus, a red lotus, or a white lotus, born in the water, grown up in the water, rises well above the water and re­mains unsmeared by water, even so, Bàhuna, does the Tathàgata dwell detached, disengaged and released from these ten things with a mind unrestricted."

This discourse, in particular, highlights the transcendence of the Tathàgata, though he seems to take in worldly objects through the senses. Even the release from the five aggregates is affirmed.

We might wonder why the Tathàgata is said to be free from birth, decay and death, since, as we know, he did grow old and pass away. Birth, decay and death, in this context, do not refer to some future state either. Here and now the Tathàgata is free from the concepts of birth, decay and death.

In the course of our discussion of the term papa¤ca, we had occa­sion to illustrate how one can be free from such concepts.[11] If con­cepts of birth, decay and death drive fear into the minds of world­lings, such is not the case with the Tathàgata. He is free from such fears and forebodings. He is free from defilements as well.

The discourse seems to affirm that the Tathàgata dwells detached from all these ten things. It seems, therefore, that the functioning of the Tathàgata's sense-faculties in his every day life also should fol­low a certain extraordinary pattern of detachment and disengage­ment. In fact, Venerable Sàriputta says something to that effect in the Saëàyatanasaüyutta of the Saüyutta Nikàya.

Passati Bhagavà cakkhunà råpaü, chandaràgo Bhagavato natthi, suvimuttacitto Bhagavà.[12] "The Exalted One sees forms with the eye, but there is no desire or attachment in him, well freed in mind is the Exalted One."

We come across a similar statement made by the brahmin youth Uttara in the Brahmàyusutta of the Majjhima Nikàya, after he had closely followed the Buddha for a considerable period to verify the good report of his extraordinary qualities.

Rasapañisaüvedã kho pana so bhavaü Gotamo àhàraü àhàreti, no rasaràgapañisaüvedã.[13] "Experiencing taste Master Gotama takes his food, but not experiencing any attachment to the taste."

It is indeed something marvellous. The implication is that there is such a degree of detachment with regard to things experienced by the tongue, even when the senses are taking in their objects. One can un­derstand the difference between the mundane and the supramundane, when one reflects on the difference between experiencing taste and experiencing an attachment to taste.

Not only with regard to the objects of the five senses, but even with regard to mind-objects, the emancipated one has a certain de­gree of detachment. The arahant has realized that they are not `such'. He takes in concepts, and even speaks in terms of `I' and `mine', but knows that they are false concepts, as in the case of a child's language,

There is a discourse among the Nines of the Aïguttara Nikàya which seems to assert this fact. It is a discourse preached by Vener­able Sàriputta to refute a wrong viewpoint taken by a monk named Chandikàputta.

Evaü sammà vimuttacittassa kho, àvuso, bhikkhuno bhusà cepi cakkhuvi¤¤eyyà råpà cakkhussa àpàthaü àgacchanti, nevassa cittaü pariyàdiyanti, amissãkatamevassa cittaü hoti ñhitaü àne¤jappattaü, vayaü cassànupassati. Bhusà cepi sotavi¤¤eyyà saddà ... bhåsa cepi ghànavi¤¤eyyà gandhà ... bhåsa cepi jivhàvi¤¤eyyà rasà ... bhåsa cepi kàyavi¤¤eyyà phoññhabbà ... bhåsa cepi manovi¤¤eyyà dhammà manassa àpàthaü àgacchanti, nevassa cittaü pariyàdiyanti, amis­sã­katamevassa cittaü hoti ñhitaü àne¤jappattaü, vayaü cassànu­pas­sati.[14]

"Friend, in the case of a monk who is fully released, even if many forms cognizable by the eye come within the range of vision, they do not overwhelm his mind, his mind remains unalloyed, steady and un­moved, he sees its passing away. Even if many sounds cognizable by the ear come within the range of hearing ... even if many smells cog­nizable by the nose ... even if many tastes cognizable by the tongue ... even if many tangibles cognizable by the body ... even if many mind-objects cognizable by the mind come within the range of the mind, they do not overwhelm his mind, his mind remains unal­loyed, steady and unmoved, he sees its passing away."

So here we have the ideal of the emancipated mind. Generally, a person unfamiliar with the nature of a lotus leaf or a lotus petal, on seeing a drop of water on a lotus leaf or a lotus petal would think that the water drop smears them.

Earlier we happened to mention that there is a wide gap between the mundane and the supramundane. Some might think that this re­fers to a gap in time or in space. In fact it is such a conception that often led to various misinterpretations concerning Nibbàna. The su­pramundane seems so far away from the mundane, so it must be some­thing attainable after death in point of time. Or else it should be far far away in outer space. Such is the impression made in general.

But if we go by the simile of the drop of water on the lotus leaf, the distance between the mundane and the supramundane is the same as that between the lotus leaf and the drop of water on it.

We are still on the problem of the hither shore and the farther shore. The distinction between the mundane and the supramundane brings us to the question of this shore and the other shore.

The arahant's conception of this shore and the other shore differs from that of the worldling in general. If, for instance, a native of this island goes abroad and settles down there, he might even think of a return to his country as a `going abroad'. Similarly, as far as the eman­cipated sage is concerned, if he, having gone to the farther shore, does not come back, one might expect him to think of this world as the farther shore.

But it seems the arahant has no such distinction. A certain Dham­mapada verse alludes to the fact that he has transcended this dichot­omy:

Yassa pàraü apàraü và,

pàràpàraü na vijjati,

vãtaddaraü visaüyuttaü,

tam ahaü bråmi bràhmaõaü.[15]

This is a verse we have quoted earlier too, in connection with the question of the verbal dichotomy.[16] Yassa pàraü apàraü và, pàrà­pàraü na vijjati,"to whom there is neither a farther shore, nor a hither shore, nor both". That is to say, he has no discrimination be­tween the two. Vãtaddaraü visaüyuttaü, tam ahaü bråmi bràhma­õaü, "who is free from pangs of sorrow and entanglements, him I call a Brahmin".

This means that the arahant is free from the verbal dichotomy, which is of relevance to the worldling. Once gone beyond, the eman­cipated one has no more use of these concepts. This is where the Buddha's dictum in the raft simile of the Alagaddåpamasutta be­comes meaningful.

Even the concepts of a `this shore' and a `farther shore' are useful only for the purpose of crossing over. If, for instance, the arahant, having gone beyond, were to think `ah, this is my land', that would be some sort of a grasping. Then there will be an identification, tam­ma­yatà, not a non-identification, atammayatà.

As we had mentioned earlier, there is a strange quality called a­tam­mayatà, associated with an arahant.[17] In connection with the sim­ile of a man who picked up a gem, we have already stated the ordi­nary norm that prevails in the world.[18]

If we possess something - we are possessed by it.

If we grasp something - we are caught by it.

This is the moral behind the parable of the gem. It is this con­vic­tion, which prompts the arahant not to grasp even the farther shore, though he may stand there. `This shore' and the `other shore' are concepts, which have a practical value to those who are still on this side.

As it is stated in the Alagaddåpamasutta, since there is no boat or bridge to cross over, one has to improvise a raft by putting together grass, twigs, branches and leaves, found on this shore. But after cross­ing over with its help, he does not carry it with him on his shoulder.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, kullåpamo mayà dhammo desito nit­tha­ra­õatthàya no gahaõatthàya. Kullåpamaü vo bhikkhave àjà­nan­tehi dhammà pi vo pahàtabbà, pag'eva adhammà .[19]

"Even so, monks, have I preached to you a Dhamma that is com­parable to a raft, which is for crossing over and not for grasping. Well knowing the Dhamma to be comparable to a raft, you should abandon even the good things, more so the bad things."

One might think that the arahant is in the sensuous realm, when, for instance, he partakes of food. But that is not so. Though he attains to the realms of form and formless realms, he does not belong there. He has the ability to attain to those levels of concentration, but he does not grasp them egoistically, true to that norm of atammayatà, or non-identification.

This indeed is something extraordinary. Views and opinions about language, dogmatically entertained by the worldlings, lose their attraction for him. This fact is clearly illustrated for us by the Uragasutta of the Sutta Nipàta, the significance of which we have al­ready stressed.[20] We happened to mention that there is a refrain, run­ning through all the seventeen verses making up that discourse. The refrain concerns the worn out skin of a snake. The last two lines in each verse, forming the refrain, are:

So bhikkhu jahàti orapàraü,

urago jiõõamiva tacaü puràõaü.[21]

"That monk forsakes the hither and the thither,

Even as the snake its skin that doth wither".

The term orapàraü is highly significant in this context. Oraü  means "this shore" and paraü is the "farther shore". The monk, it seems, gives up not only this shore, but the other shore as well, even as the snake sloughs off its worn out skin. That skin has served its pur­pose, but now it is redundant. So it is sloughed off.

Let us now take up one more verse from the Uragasutta which has the same refrain, because of its relevance to the understanding of the term papa¤ca. The transcendence of relativity involves freedom from the duality in worldly concepts such as `good' and `evil'. The concept of a `farther shore' stands relative to the concept of a `hither shore'. The point of these discourses is to indicate that there is a free­dom from worldly conceptual proliferations based on duality and rela­tivity. The verse we propose to bring up is:

Yo nàccasàrã na paccasàrã,

sabbaü accagamà imaü papa¤caü,

so bhikkhu jahàti orapàraü,

urago jiõõamiva tacaü puràõaü.[22]

"Who neither overreaches himself nor lags behind,

And has gone beyond all this proliferation,

That monk forsakes the hither and the thither,

Even as the snake its slough that doth wither".

This verse is particularly significant in that it brings out some points of interest. The overreaching and lagging behind is an allusion to the verbal dichotomy. In the context of views, for instance, anni­hilationism is an overreaching and eternalism is a lagging behind. We may give another illustration, easier to understand. Speculation about the future is an overreaching and repentance over the past is a lagging behind. To transcend both these tendencies is to get beyond proliferation, sabbaü accagamà imaü papa¤caü.

When a banknote is invalidated, cravings, conceits and views bound with it go down. Concepts current in the world, like banknotes in transaction, are reckoned as valid so long as cravings, conceits and views bound with them are there. They are no longer valid when these are gone.

We have defined papa¤ca with reference to cravings, conceits and views. [23] Commentaries also speak of taõhàpapa¤ca. diññhi­pa­pa¤ca and mànapapa¤ca.[24] By doing away with cravings, con­ceits and views, one goes beyond all papa¤ca.

The term orapàraü, too, has many connotations. It stands for the duality implicit in such usages as the `internal' and the `external', `one's own' and `another's', as well as `this shore' and the `farther shore'. It is compared here to the worn out skin of a snake. It is worn out by transcending the duality characteristic of linguistic usage through wisdom.

Why the Buddha first hesitated to teach this Dhamma was the dif­ficulty of making the world understand.[25] Perhaps it was the convic­tion that the world could easily be misled by those limitations in the linguistic medium.

We make these few observations in order to draw attention to the relativity underlying such terms as `this shore' and the `other shore' and to show how Nibbàna transcends even that dichotomy.

In this connection, we may take up for comment a highly contro­versial sutta in the Itivuttaka, which deals with the two aspects of Nib­bàna known as sa-upàdisesà Nibbànadhàtu and anupàdisesà Nib­bànadhàtu. We propose to quote the entire sutta, so as to give a fuller treatment to the subject.

Vuttaü hetaü Bhagavatà, vuttam arahatà ti me suttaü:

Dve-mà, bhikkhave, nibbànadhàtuyo. Katame dve? Sa-upadisesà ca nibbànadhàtu, anupàdisesà ca nibbànadhàtu.

Katamà, bhikkhave, sa-upadisesà nibbànadhàtu? Idha, bhik­kha­ve, bhikkhu arahaü hoti khãõàsavo vusitavà katakaraõãyo ohitabhàro anuppattasadattho parikkhãõabhavasaüyojano sam­mada¤¤àvimutto. Tassa tiññhanteva pa¤cindriyàni yesaü avighàtattà manàpàmanàpaü paccanubhoti, sukhadukkhaü pañisaüvediyati. Tassa yo ràgakkhayo dosakkhayo mohakkhayo, ayaü vuccati, bhikkhave, sa-upadisesà nib­­bànadhàtu.

Katamà ca, bhikkhave,anupàdisesà nibbànadhàtu? Idha, bhik­kha­ve, bhikkhu arahaü hoti khãõàsavo vusitavà katakaraõãyo ohita­bhàro anuppattasadattho parikkhãõabhavasaüyojano sam­mada¤­¤à­vi­mutto. Tassa idheva sabbavedayitàni anabhinanditàni sãtibhavis­santi, ayaü vuccati, bhikkhave, anupàdisesà nibbànadhàtu.

Etam atthaü Bhagavà avoca, tatthetaü iti vuccati:

Duve imà cakkhumatà pakàsità,

nibbànadhàtå anissitena tàdinà,

ekà hi dhàtu idha diññhadhammikà,

sa-upadisesà bhavanettisaïkhayà,

anupàdisesà pana samparàyikà,

yamhi nirujjhanti bhavàni sabbaso.

Ye etad-a¤¤àya padaü asaïkhataü,

vimuttacittà bhavanettisaïkhayà,

te dhammasàràdhigamà khaye ratà,

pahaüsu te sabbabhavàni tàdino.

Ayampi attho vutto Bhagavatà, iti me sutaü.[26]

"This was said by the Exalted One, said by the Worthy One, so have I heard:

`Monks, there are these two Nibbàna elements. Which two? The Nibbàna element with residual clinging and the Nibbàna element without residual clinging.

And what, monks, is the Nibbàna element with residual clinging? Herein, monks, a monk is an arahant, with influxes extinct, one who has lived the holy life to the full, done what is to be done, laid down the burden, reached one's goal, fully destroyed the fetters of exis­tence and released with full understanding. His five sense faculties still remain and due to the fact that they are not destroyed, he experi­ences likes and dislikes, and pleasures and pains. That extirpation of lust, hate and delusion in him, that, monks, is known as the Nibbàna element with residual clinging.

And what, monks, is the Nibbàna element without residual cling­ing? Herein, monks, a monk is an arahant, with influxes extinct, one who has lived the holy life to the full, done what is to be done, laid down the burden, reached one's goal, fully destroyed the fetters of existence and released with full understanding. In him, here itself, all what is felt will cool off, not being delighted in. This, monks, is the Nib­bàna element without residual clinging.'

To this effect the Exalted One spoke and this is the gist handed down as `thus said'.

`These two Nibbàna elements have been made known,

 By the one with vision, unattached and such,

Of relevance to the here and now is one element,

With residual clinging, yet with tentacles to becoming snapped,

But then that element without residual clinging is of relevance to

the hereafter,

For in it surcease all forms of becoming.

They that comprehend fully this state of the unprepared,

Released in mind with tentacles to becoming snapped,

On winning to the essence of Dhamma they take delight in seeing to an end of it all,

So give up they, all forms of becoming, steadfastly such-like as they are."

The standard phrase summing up the qualification of an arahant occurs in full in the definition of the sa-upàdisesà Nibbànadhàtu. The distinctive feature of this Nibbàna element is brought out in the statement that the arahant's five sense faculties are still intact, owing to which he experiences likes and dislikes, and pleasure and pain. However, to the extent that lust, hate and delusion are extinct in him, it is called the Nibbàna element with residual clinging.

In the definition of the Nibbàna element without residual cling­ing, the same standard phrase recurs, while its distinctive feature is sum­med up in just one sentence: Tassa idheva sabba­veda­yi­tàni an­abhi­nanditàni sãtibhavis­santi, "in him, here itself, all what is felt will cool off, not being delighted in". It may be noted that the verb is in the future tense and apart from this cooling off, there is no guarantee of a world beyond, as an asaïkhata dhàtu, or `unprepared element', with no sun, moon or stars in it.

The two verses that follow purport to give a summary of the prose passage. Here it is clearly stated that out of the two Nibbàna ele­ments, as they are called, the former pertains to the here and now, diñ­­ñhadhammika, while the latter refers to what comes after death, sam­paràyika. The Nibbàna element with residual clinging, sa-upà­disesà Nibbànadhàtu, has as its redeeming feature the assurance that the tentacular craving for becoming is cut off, despite its exposure to likes and dislikes, pleasures and pains, common to the field of the five senses.

As for the Nibbàna element without residual clinging, it is defi­nitely stated that in it all forms of existence come to cease. The rea­son for it is none other than the crucial fact, stated in that single sen­tence, namely, the cooling off of all what is felt as an inevitable con­sequence of not being delighted in, anabhinanditàni.

Why do they not take delight in what is felt at the moment of pass­ing away? They take delight in something else, and that is: the very destruction of all what is felt, a foretaste of which they have al­ready experienced in their attainment to that unshakeable deliver­ance of the mind, which is the very pith and essence of the Dhamma, dham­­masàra.

As stated in the Mahàsàropamasutta of the Majjhima Nikàya, the pith of the Dhamma is that deliverance of the mind,[27] and to take de­light in the ending of all feelings, khaye ratà, is to revert to the ara­hattaphalasamàdhi with which the arahant is already familiar. That is how those such-like ones abandon all forms of existence, pahaüsu te sabbabhavàni tàdino.

Let us now try to sort out the problems that are likely to be raised in connection with the interpretation we have given. First and fore­most, the two terms diññhadhammika and samparàyika have to be ex­plained.

A lot of confusion has arisen, due to a misunderstanding of the meaning of these two terms in this particular context. The usual com­mentarial exegesis on the term diññhadhammika amounts to this: Imas­miü attabhàve bhavà vattamànà,[28] "in this very life, that is, in the present". It seems all right. But then for samparàyika the com­men­tary has the following comment: samparàye khandhabhedato parabhàge, "samparàya means after the breaking up of the aggre­gates". The implication is that it refers to the arahant's after death state.

Are we then to conclude that the arahant gets half of his Nib­bàna here and the other half hereafter? The terms diññha­dham­mika and samparàyika, understood in their ordinary sense, would point to such a conclusion.

But let us not forget that the most distinctive quality of this Dham­­­ma is associated with the highly significant phrase, diñ­ñheva­dhamme, "in this very life". It is also conveyed by the expression sandiññhika akàlika, "here and now" and "timeless".[29] The goal of en­deavour, indicated by this Dhamma, is one that could be fully real­ized here and now, in this very life. It is not a piecemeal affair. Grant­ing all that, do we find here something contrary to it, conveyed by the two terms diññhadhammika and samparàyika? How can we reconcile these two passages?

In the context of kamma, the meaning of the two terms in ques­tion can easily be understood. For instance, that category of kam­ma known as diññhadhammavedanãya refers to those actions which produce their results here and now. Samparàyika pertains to what comes after death, as for instance in the phrase samparàye ca dug­gati, an "evil bourn after death".[30] In the context of kamma it is clear enough, then, that the two terms refer to what is experienced in this world and what comes after death, respectively.

Are we justified in applying the same criterion, when it comes to the so-called two elements of Nibbàna? Do the arahants experience some part of Nibbàna here and the rest hereafter?

At this point, we have to admit that the term diññhadhammika is as­sociated with sa-upàdisesà Nibbànadhàtu while the term sam­parà­yi­ka is taken over to refer to anupàdisesà Nibbànadhàtu. However, the fact that Nibbàna is explicitly defined elsewhere as the cessation of existence, bhavanirodho Nibbànaü,[31] must not be forgotten. If Nib­bàna is the cessation of existence, there is nothing left for the arahant to experience hereafter.

Nibbàna is solely the realization of the cessation of existence or the end of the process of becoming. So there is absolutely no ques­tion of a hereafter for the arahant. By way of clarification, we have to revert to the primary sense of the term Nibbàna. We have made it sufficiently clear that Nibbàna means `extinction' or `extinguish­ment', as of a fire.

All the commentarial jargon, equating vàna to taõhà, is utterly ir­relevant. If the idea of an extinguishment of a fire is brought in, the whole problem is solved. Think of a blazing fire. If no more fire­wood is added to it, the flames would subside and the embers would go on smouldering before turning into ashes. This is the norm. Now this is not an analogy we are superimposing on the Dhamma. It is only an echo of a canonical simile, picked up from the Nàga­sut­ta of the Aïguttara Nikàya. The relevant verse, we are quoting, recurs in the Udàyi Theragàthà as well.

Mahàgini pajjalito,

anàhàråpasammati,

aïgàresu ca santesu,,

nibbuto ti pavuccati.[32]

"As a huge blazing fire, with no more firewood added,

Goes down to reach a state of calm,

Embers smouldering, as they are, could be reckoned,

So long as they last, as almost `extinguished'."

Though we opted to render the verse this way, there is a variant reading, which could lead to a different interpretation. As so often happens in the case of deep suttas, here too the correct reading is not easily determined. Instead of the phrase aïgàresu ca santesu, at­tested as it is, many editions go for the variant reading saïkhàre­såpa­santesu. If that reading is adopted, the verse would have to be ren­dered as follows:

"As a huge blazing fire, with no more fire wood added,

Goes down to reach a state of calm,

When saïkhàras calm down,

One is called `extinguished'."

It maybe pointed out that this variant reading does not accord with the imagery of the fire presented by the first two lines of the verse. It is probably a scribe's error that has come down, due to the rhythmic similarity between the two phrases aïgàresu ca santesu, and saïkhàresåpasantesu.[33] Between the reciter and the scribe, phrases that have a similar ring and rhythm, could sometimes bring about a textual corruption. Be that as it may, we have opted for the reading aïgàresu ca santesu, because it makes more sense.

From the particular context in which the verse occurs, it seems that this imagery of the fire is a restatement of the image of the lotus unsmeared by water. Though the embers are still smouldering, to the extent that they are no longer hungering for more fuel and are not emitting flames, they may as well be reckoned as `extinguished'.

We can draw a parallel between this statement and the definition of sa-upàdisesà Nibbànadhàtu already quoted. As a full-fledged arahant, he still experiences likes and dislikes and pleasures and pains, owing to the fact that his five sense-faculties are intact.

The assertion made by the phrase beginning with tassa tiññhanteva pa¤cindriyàni yesaü avighàtattà ... , "his five senses do exist, owing to the non-destruction of which ...", rather apologetically brings out the limitations of the living arahant. It is reminiscent of those smoul­dering embers in the imagery of the Nàgasutta. However, in so far as flames of lust, hate and delusion are quenched in him, it comes to be called sa-upàdisesà Nibbànadhàtu, even as in the case of those smou­l­dering embers.

Craving is aptly called bhavanetti, [34] in the sense that it leads to be­coming by catching hold of more and more fuel in the form of upàdàna. When it is under control, the functioning of the sense-fac­ulties do not entail further rebirth. The inevitable residual clinging in the living arahant does not precipitate a fresh existence.

This gives us a clue to the understanding of the term anupàdisesa. The element upàdi in this term is rather ambiguous. In the Sati­pañ­ñhàna­sutta, for instance, it is used as the criterion to distinguish the anàgàmi, the "non-returner", from the arahant, in the statement diñ­ñhevadhamme a¤¤à, sati và upàdisese anàgàmità,[35] "either full con­vincing knowledge of arahant-hood here and now, or the state of non-return in the case of residual clinging".

But when it comes to the distinction between sa-upàdisesa and anupàdisesa, the element upàdi has to be understood in a more radi­cal sense, in association with the word upàdiõõa. This body, as the product of past kamma, is the `grasped' par excellence, which as an organic combination goes on functioning even in the ara­hant until his last moment of life.

Venerable Sàriputta once declared that he neither delighted in death nor delighted in life, nàbhinandàmi maraõaü nàbhinandàmi jãvitaü.[36] So the embers go on smouldering until they become ashes. It is when the life span ends that the embers finally turn to ashes.

The popular interpretation of the term anupàdisesà Nibbànadhàtu leaves room for some absolutist conceptions of an asaïkhata dhàtu, unprepared element, as the destiny of the arahant. After his pari­nib­bàna, he is supposed to enter this particular Nibbànadhàtu. But here, in this discourse, it is explained in just one sentence: Tassa idheva, bhikkhave, sabbavedayitàni anabhinanditàni sãtibhavis­santi, "in the case of him" (that is the arahant) ", O! monks, all what is felt, not having been delighted in, will cool off here itself."

This cooling off happens just before death, without igniting an­other spark of life. When Màra comes to grab and seize, the ara­hant lets go. The pain of death with which Màra teases his hapless victim and lures him into another existence, becomes ineffective in the case of the arahant. As he has already gone through the supra­mundane experience of deathlessness, in the arahat­taphala­samà­dhi, death loses its sting when at last it comes. The influx-free deliver­ance of the mind and the influx-free deliverance through wisdom en­able him to cool down all feelings in a way that baffles Màra.

So the arahant lets go of his body, experiencing ambrosial death­lessness. As in the case of Venerable Dabba Mallaputta, he would sometimes cremate his own body without leaving any ashes.[37] Out­wardly it might appear as an act of self-immolation, which in­deed is painful. But this is not so. Using his jhànic powers, he simply em­ploys the internal fire element to cremate the body he has already discarded.

This, then, is the Buddha's extraordinary solution to the problem of overcoming death, a solution that completely outwits Màra.