The Hidden Element (Seeing Is Believing)

(Some Western philosophers think that they understand dukkha. Einstein discovered mass–energy, E = mc², but he did not discover mind energy which is more important. In the same way, chemists will never discover the hidden element. This foremost element cannot be discovered by a defiled and polluted mind. Do not say that they can discover it, even with the strongest “superglue” of diṭṭhi and taṇhā, to understand and appreciate the Buddha-Dhamma is very difficult for them.)

There are two types of phenomena: conceptual and ultimate (paññatti and paramattha). There are two kinds within the ultimate: conditioned and unconditioned (saṅkhata and asaṅkhata). We cannot yet see the unconditioned element, Nibbāna, because it is covered by the conditioned elements of the aggregates (khandha).

The unconditioned element cannot yet appear because the aggregates have not yet ceased. Again, concepts cover up what cannot see the conditioned clearly. The concepts of a person or a being cover up the aggregates, and the aggregates, in turn, cover up Nibbāna.

The usages of human society—together with wrong perception, wrong knowing, and wrong viewing (the twelve inversions), as well as wrong views (diṭṭhi)—cover up the aggregates and make them impossible to discern.

Only by removing these two coverings can one discern Nibbāna. How does one strip off concepts? It is through discerning the conditioned. The yogi has to observe newly arising phenomena of the aggregates. As knowledge of mind and body develops, concepts fall away. By knowing the arising intrinsic nature of phenomena, the concepts of a person and a being disappear.

By knowing the arising and vanishing of dependently arisen dhammas, concepts drop off.

Nibbāna is realized by uncovering what covers the conditioned. This is the most difficult task. At the end of the conditioned, Nibbāna exists.

The yogi must contemplate in order to discern the rise and fall of conditioned phenomena. This is momentary Nibbāna, also called momentary cessation (khaṇa-nirodha). He has to contemplate for a longer period. If he still cannot see momentary cessation, he will be unable to discern the cessation of the whole process leading to Nibbāna.

With much seeing, knowledge becomes mature, and he comes to understand more deeply. He will understand the truth of dukkha, and knowledge of not wanting it will arise. (Sayadaw gives the example of eating the same food every day—for instance, pork—until it becomes wearisome.) Then all the rise and fall (anicca) come to cessation. With the cessation of all rise and fall, the unconditioned element appears. Nibbāna appears, which has no rise and fall. This is at the end of the conditioned; the unconditioned Nibbāna exists.

(Sayadaw gives an example from the experience of a yogi.) This yogi, upon arriving at the knowledge of disenchantment, did not want to see further, yet the Dhamma process continued to present itself to him. It was unavoidable. It was as though something were asking him, “Do you want to see it?” The mind (ñāṇa) answered, “I really don’t want to see it.” Then, in the quickest way, impermanence came to a stop.

After that, gladness arose, and he bowed to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Saṅgha many times. Before this, it had been quite difficult for him to bow even once. The yogi’s experience matched the texts.

(Luang Por Chah taught the monks: when you come out of the kuti, bow to the Buddha. When you enter the sālā, bow to the Buddha; when leaving, bow again. When going outside the monastery, bow; when returning, bow again.)

Mogok Sayadawgyi also said that when the yogi arrives at nibbidā-ñāṇa, one cannot stop it by desire. It comes to a stop through the decision of ñāṇa itself. Whether path knowledge (magga-ñāṇa) is correct or not is confirmed by fruition knowledge (phala-ñāṇa). The yogi has to enter the fruition state.

As long as conceptual coverings remain, they cover the person’s mind, and there is no true contemplation.

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• Content of Seeing Is Believing-- Dhamma Talks by Sayadaw U Nyanabhasa
• Content of Publications of Bhikkhu Uttamo

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