Survey of the Paramattha dhammas

Chapter 5 Exposition of Paramattha Dhammas III (Nibbåna) Nibbåna paramattha dhamma is another kind of paramattha dhamma. The Buddha called it “nibbåna”, because it is the end of “våna”, which means craving. 11 The paramattha dhamma that is nibbåna is the cessation of dukkha. Citta, cetasika and rúpa are dukkha, because they are impermanent, they arise and then fall away. Desire should be eradicated so that there can be the end of dukkha. Desire is the origin, the cause of the arising of dukkha. It is the cause of the arising of the five khandhas, which are citta, cetasika and rúpa 12. Desire can be eradicated by developing paññå, wisdom, until the characteristics of the arising and falling away of citta, cetasika and rúpa have been penetrated. When paññå has been developed to the degree that nibbåna can be realized and clearly known, clinging and wrong view with regard to citta, cetasika and rúpa can be eradicated. Nibbåna is the dhamma that is the cessation of dukkha and the cessation of the khandhas 13. Nibbåna is reality, it is a paramattha dhamma, an ultimate reality and it is a dhamma that can be clearly known.

Nibbåna paramattha dhamma 14 has been classified as twofold: Sa-upådisesa nibbåna dhåtu, nibbåna with the khandhas remaining An-upådisesa nibbåna dhåtu, nibbåna without the khandhas 15 “Upådi” in “upådisesa” is another designation of the five khandhas, which include citta, cetasika and rúpa. As to “nibbåna with the khandhas remaining”, this means that all defilements have been eradicated, but that the khandhas are remaining, arising and falling away in succession. As to “nibbåna without the khandhas remaining”, this means the final falling away of the five khandhas, not to arise again, that is, the parinibbåna, the final passing away, of the arahat.

Because there is nibbåna with the khandhas remaining and nibbåna without the khandhas remaining, two kinds of nibbåna have been proclaimed 16.

When the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi-tree, he attained nibbåna with the khandhas remaining, sa-upådisesa nibbåna dhåtu. He completely eradicated defilements and all the dhammas (citta and cetasikas) accompanying defilements, so that they could never arise again. However, the khandhas were still remaining, namely, citta, cetasika (which were without defilements) and rúpa, arising and falling away in succession.

We read in “As it was said” (Minor Anthologies, As it was said, the Twos, Ch II, VII) that the Buddha said to the monks: “Of what sort, monks, is nibbåna with the basis still remaining? Herein, monks, a monk is arahat, one who has destroyed the cankers (defilements), who has lived the life, done what was to be done, laid down the burden, won the goal, worn out 24