Looking for Nibbāna at the Right Place


revised on 2019-04-20


Dhamma Talks by Mogok Sayadaw;

(Sayadaw gave a few talks on Nibbāna and explaining with his own similes but this one without it. It was like a puzzle. But instead of thinking and speculation on Nibbāna, it is better to understand what Dukkha is. And then will appreciate Nibbāna and desire to transcend Dukkha. Only by understanding Dukkha can be understood Nibbāna.)

In the khandha there are 3 Noble Truths. Form (rūpakkhandha) is fuel and Dukkha Sacca, unstable dhamma. Kilesa is fire and Samudaya Sacca, unstable dhamma. Magga Sacca also is unstable dhamma. Therefore, can't rely on them. Today I will talk exactly about Nibbāna. The Buddha asked to look for Nibbāna in this 2-armed-lengths body. But only found the unstable dhamma. Form is rūpakkhandha. Greed (lobha) and path factors (maggaṅga) are saṅkhārakkhandha. All of them are not free from the khandhas. At the present khandha, only the 3 Noble Truths can be found and without Nibbāna. You couldn't find Nibbāna there. Why? It's because Nibbāna is not connected with the khandha. If including in the khandha, it will be unstable. But the Buddha told us that the 4-Noble Truths are in the khandhas. Therefore, Nibbāna is not mix-up with the impermanent khandhas. In this case must outside the khandhas. Even the khandhas perish, it does not. Therefore, dhuva (stable) nibbāna and sukha (pleasant, happy) nibbāna. Not everyone can see it. Someone who learns and studies from a teacher will see it. This is the work of a person who works out until not wanting and cessation of the khandhas. After that become one's own property. Understanding Dukkha Sacca with penetration will realize Nibbāna. It's not mixing-up Dukkha Sacca that must be Sukha Sacca.

It will be in safety only by getting there. During the practice by not wanting Dukkha Sacca of the khandhas and then instantly the khandhas disappear and Nibbāna appears. Something is existing and no connection with the khandhas. It appears without the khandhas. The practicer stays with the imperishable thing. Not seeing Nibbāna is don't know how to clear up things which cover on it. As an external nature and not an internal one, Nibbāna is a strange phenomenon. One can't find it outside the khandhas. The Buddha asked Rohitassa Devata to look inside the khandhas. It exists in 2-armed-lengths khandhas as an external matter or thing and not an internal one. Why we can't realize Nibbāna? It's because of the affection to impermanence nature; such as one's own khandha, family members, wealth etc. If you don't want these impermanent things will realize it. Ask you to contemplate is to understand the impermanent phenomena. The first step is to discern impermanence, the 2nd its disenchantment and the 3rd its ending. If you desire impermanent phenomena, you will get these things. By not desiring, then you will get the permanent one. If you find the unstableness, you are on the way to Nibbāna. Continue to follow the unstableness to its ending will find out the constant Nibbāna.


revised on 2019-04-20; cited from https://oba.org.tw/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=2945&start=10#p32976 (posted on 2016-08-07)


  • Content of Part I on "Dhamma Talks by Mogok Sayadaw"

  • Content of "Dhamma Talks by Mogok Sayadaw"

  • Content of Publications of Ven. Uttamo

This is only an experimental WWW. It's always under construction (proofreading, revising)!

According to the translator— Ven. Uttamo's words, this is strictly for free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma—Dhamma Dāna. You may re-format, reprint, translate, and redistribute this work in any medium.

據英譯者—鄔達摩比丘交待,此譯文僅能免費與大眾結緣,作為法的禮物(Dhamma Dāna)。你可以在任何媒體上重新編製、重印、翻譯和重新發布這部作品。