28. Discourse on Nirvāṇa (SA28)

Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. At that time a certain monk approached the Buddha, paid homage with his head at the Buddha’s feet and withdrew to stand at one side. He said to the Buddha: “As the Blessed One has spoken about attaining Nirvāṇa here and now—how does a monk attain Nirvāṇa here and now?”

The Buddha said to the monk: “It is well, it is well. You now wish to know about Nirvāṇa here and now. Is it like this?” The monk said to the Buddha: “Indeed, Blessed One.”

The Buddha said to the monk: “Listen and pay careful attention to what I will tell you.” The Buddha said to the monk: “Arousing disenchantment for bodily form, being free from desire for it, proceeding towards its cessation, and by not clinging the mind is rightly liberated from the influxes. This is reckoned how a monk attains Nirvāṇa here and now. In the same way arousing disenchantment for feeling … perception … formations … consciousness, being free from desire for it, proceeding towards its cessation, and by not clinging the mind is rightly liberated from the influxes. This is reckoned how a monk attains Nirvāṇa here and now.”

Then that monk, hearing what the Buddha had said, was thrilled with delight, paid homage and left.

Translated by Bhikkhu Anālayo. Originally published in ‘On the Five Aggregates (1)—A Translation of Saṁyukta-āgama Discourses 1 to 32’. Dharma Drum Journal of Buddhist Studies, vol. 11, pp. 1–61 (2012). New Taipei City: Dharma Drum Buddhist College.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Bhikkhu Sujato.