You are here: Home
Spiritual Development
The Roots of Good and Evil: An Anthology by Nyanaponika Thera
|
Contents|
I |
II |
III |
IV |
V |
VI |
VII |
VII.The Goal
32. THE VISIBLE NIBBANA
When greed, hatred and delusion are abandoned, one neither
aims at one's own harm, nor at the harm of others, nor at the harm of both,
and one will not suffer pain and grief in one's mind. In that sense is
Nibbana visible here and now.
If one experiences the complete elimination
of greed, the complete elimination of hatred, the complete elimination
of delusion, in that sense is Nibbana visible here and now, of immediate
result, inviting to come and see, onward-leading, to be directly experienced
by the wise.
Anguttara Nikaya, 3: 56
33 . WHAT IS NIBBANA?
A wandering ascetic, Jambukhadaka by name, approached
the venerable Sariputta and asked him the following question:
'One speaks about "Nibbana,".
Now, what is that Nibbana, friend?'
'It is the elimination of greed, the
elimination of hatred, the elimination of delusion - this, friend, is called
Nibbana.'
'But is there a way, is there a path,
friend, for the realization of that Nibbana?'
'Yes, friend, there is such a way,
there is a path for the realization of that Nibbana. It is the Noble Eightfold
Path, namely right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action,
right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration.'
Samyutta Nikaya, 38: 1
34. TWO ASPECTS OF NIBBANA
This was said by the Blessed one, spoken by the Holy One,
and thus I have heard:
There are, O monks, two aspects of
Nibbana: the Nibbana-element with the groups of existence still remaining
(sa-upadisesa-nibbanadhatu),
and
the Nibbana-element with no groups remaining
(anupadisesa-nibbanadhatu).
What is now the Nibbana-element with
the groups of existence still remaining? In that case, O monks, a monk
is an Arahat: he is taint-free, has fulfilled the holy life, accomplished
his task, thrown off the burden, attained his goal, cast off the fetters
of existence and is liberated through right wisdom. But there still remain
with him (until his death) the five sense-organs that have not yet disappeared
and through which he still experiences what is pleasant and unpleasant,
as well as bodily ease and pain. The extinction of greed, hatred and delusion
in him, this is called the Nibbana-element with the groups of existence
still remaining.
And what is the Nibbana-element with
no groups of existence remaining? In that case, O monks, a monk is an Arahat
. . . liberated through right wisdom. In him, all those feelings, no longer
relished, will even here (at his death) come to extinction. This is called
the Nibbana-element with no groups of existence remaining.
Itivuttaka 44
(Adapted from the translation by
Nyanatiloka Mahathera.)
35. THE HAPPINESS OF LIBERATION
He, the Arahat, knows this:
'Once there was greed, and that was evil; now that
is no more, and so it is well. Once there was hatred, and that was evil;
now that is no more, and so it is well. Once there was delusion, and that
was evil; now that is no more, and so it is well.'
Thus the Arahat lives, even during his lifetime,
free of craving's hunger, stilled and cooled (of passion's heat), feeling
happy, with his heart become holy.
Anguttara Nikaya, 3: 66
|
Contents|
I |
II |
III |
IV |
V |
VI |
VII |
You are here: Home
Spiritual Development