THE ROOTS OF GOOD AND EVIL

Buddhist Texts Translated from Pali with an Introduction and Comments
By Nyanaponika Thera.
CHAPTER 7

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 Ias 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 and 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, spoke 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 group remaining (anupadisesa-nibbanadhau).

What is no now Nibbana-element with the groups of existence still remaining? In that case, O monks, is an Arahat: he is taint-free, has fulfilled the 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 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 existence. This is called the Nibbana-element with no groups of existence remaining.

~ ITIVUTTAKA 44 (Adapted from translation by Nyanatiloka Mahathera)


35. The Happines of Liberation

He, the Arahatm 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 becomes holy.

~ ANGUTTARA NIKAYA, 3: 66

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