Post # 13 - A  Concise Note on Nibbana - Part 2   

Are you visiting this Blog for the 1^st time?  If so I suggest that you read the 1^st Post on the Blog from the Archives and post No.12 on Nibbana Part 1, before reading on.

Nibbana – Some Pointers to the Way…….

If one is motivated to find out the way, and how a step by step practice for the realization of Nibbana is to be followed, he/she will fist want to get a good understanding of the four Noble Truths, consisting of Dhukka or the unsatisfactory nature of existence, the cause, the liberation or Nibbana, and the path of practice to liberation. He/she will then engage with resolve in the initial practices towards the liberation.

In some Dhamma Desanas (talks) monks explain a very precise and clear practice that one may engage in to attain Nibbana. The basic steps one has to follow are not too demanding. They seem very encouraging and clear enough to engage in as a practice.

By following four virtuous qualities of Kalyana Mitra Sevanaya - associating with noble friends; Saddarma Sravanaya - listening to and  learning the Dhamma; Yoniso Manasikara - being always mindful and acting wisely with clear comprehension in accordance with Dhamma; and following a Dhamma-nu-Dhamma Prathipadawa - the noble eightfold path,  one enters Sothapatthi Margaya - stream entry, the  path. This path and the attainment of its fruition, the Sothapatthi - (stream enterer) state, is the first stage in realizing Nibbana. It is a significant milestone. In addition to the four fold virtues described above, the stream enterer has to also develop unwavering trust (Sraddawa) in the Buddha, the Dhamma, the Sanga (the noble community) and the Seela - virtuous living (physical and verbal restraint from doing unwholesome deeds).

Upon entering the path one develops Saddha (trust), Viriya (ardent effort), Sathi (mindfulness and clear comprehension), Samadhi (concentrated attention) and Panna (wisdom for understanding reality) as faculties and strengths progressively to higher levels. These dhamma talks also describe how the progressive attainments of the different stages in the realization Nibbana, helps to eliminate various fetters or shackles (sanyojanas) that chain you down to the Samsaric process. Further, once you are established in the Sothapatthi Margaya, you will reach an important intermediate state before you attain its fruition. That is either becoming a Sadda-nu-sari (one driven by trust) or Dhamma-nu-sari (one driven by understanding of the Dhamma).  In the former, unwavering trust in the Noble Triple Gem is the driver which takes you forwards towards the Sothapatthi state. In the case of the latter, the driver is the inspiration gained from the understanding of the Dhamma. This inspiration carries you forward. It seems that any one of these intermediate states is quite achievable in this life and can be the first target to aim at.

From the Sothapatthi state and continuing on with the above practice to a higher degree of qualitative progress, one reaches the Sakadagami (once returner) state, the Anagami (no returner) state and thereafter the final state of Arahanthood (an enlightened one), as the full realization of Nibbana.

This step by step path of practice leading to the attainment of Nibbana unfolds in seven stages, known as the seven stages of purification and insight knowledge.  Buddha has said “you should train yourself -in the qualities I have pointed out: the four frames of reference (Sathara Satthi-Pattana); four right exertions (sathara sammapadana veeriya); the four bases of power (sathara iddhipada); the five faculties (pancha indriya); the five strengths (pancha bala); the seven factors of awakening (sattha bojjhanga); the noble eightfold path (ariya astangika magga).– They are the thirty seven factors that support Awakening (bodhi-pakkhiya dhamma), referred to as the Wings to Awakening  by Bhikkhu Thanissaro  in his book by the same name.

Attainment of Nibbana is in two stages. First is when the above purification and insight knowledge develop to the highest level, and all fetters are broken and defilements are eliminated. Then the notion of an I or me and the grasping for a re-becoming fades away due to the dawning of this wisdom. Then the five aggregates of clinging that was considered as I, mine and me due to ignorance transforms to the five aggregates only with the fading away of  grasping and clinging. This is the attainment of the 'So-upadi-shesa Nibbana' element, or Kilesa Parinibbana, reaching liberation in this present life itself. However there still exists the nature of arising staying and ceasing of the five aggregates. In other words while there still remains a state of instantaneous arising, staying and ceasing of the five aggregates a living Arahant, attains the state of Nibbana.  Then at the end of that life, with the exhaustion of the karma that gave rise to this life and the destruction of the five aggregates, the Arahant reaches Skanda Parinibbana or 'Anu-padi-shesa Nibbana' element, the ultimate end without a further re-becoming.

These extracts from text, attempts to establish the method and practice in realizing Nibbana. We have to appreciate that we are trying to break  Samsaric habits that have been cultivated over eons of time and that it is not easy. However these should in no way appear too daunting and put you off, as a very complex practice. The attainment is not overnight, but has to be obtained step by step in an incremental process.

This particular human life is a rare opportunity we have and should not be missed to make some progress in the path. The clear steps described have to be learned in detail and the practical way to engage in them in a household life has to be worked out.

May you get the necessary inspiration!

Source Material used in compiling this post:

A 'power- point' presentation given on Nibbana by Ven.  Amitha Gavashi; A talk on Nibbana by Ven. Bhikku Bhodhi; A  Dhamma Desana by Ven, Madankadawela Sudarshana Thero; The references made to Nibbana in the Abidhamma talks by Ven. Inguruwatte Dhamma Gaveshi and the Ven. Ellegama Pannaseela and Ven. Opatha Samitha Vihari  in the Buddhist TV Channel; Reference made to Nibbana by Abbidhamma Archari Buddadasa in his Abbidhamma talks; Booklet on Nivana compiled by the participants of the Dhamma classes given by Abbidhamma Archari Piyadasa Matugama; The series of talks given by Katukurunde’ Nanananda Thero on Nibbana to the participants of the meditation programme in Nissarana Wanaya; Booklet on Nibbana – The Happiness Supreme by Mr. Alec Robertson. 

I will be posting a more detailed account on Nibbana in a later post, once I get through the presentation of the other relevant Buddhist Practices that assist the visitors to this Blog to realize the understanding of Nibbana

Now the challenge is how this step-by-step practice can be translated into a daily routine, particularly by a busy householder. Please see the next post ‘Why engage in Dhamma Practice’ - Post # 14