• So It Was Said 44 Itivuttaka 44
  • The Book of the Twos Dukanipāta
  • Chapter Two Dutiyavagga

Elements of Extinguishment Nibbānadhātusutta

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard. Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

“There are, mendicants, these two elements of extinguishment. “Dvemā, bhikkhave, nibbānadhātuyo. What two? Katamā dve? The element of extinguishment with residue, and the element of extinguishment with no residue. Saupādisesā ca nibbānadhātu, anupādisesā ca nibbānadhātu.

And what is the element of extinguishment with residue? Katamā ca, bhikkhave, saupādisesā nibbānadhātu? It’s when a mendicant is a perfected one, with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu arahaṁ hoti khīṇāsavo vusitavā katakaraṇīyo ohitabhāro anuppattasadattho parikkhīṇabhavasaṁyojano sammadaññāvimutto. Their five sense faculties still remain. So long as their senses have not gone they continue to experience the agreeable and disagreeable, to feel pleasure and pain. Tassa tiṭṭhanteva pañcindriyāni yesaṁ avighātattā manāpāmanāpaṁ paccanubhoti, sukhadukkhaṁ paṭisaṁvedeti. The ending of greed, hate, and delusion in them Tassa yo rāgakkhayo, dosakkhayo, mohakkhayo—is called the element of extinguishment with residue. ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, saupādisesā nibbānadhātu.

And what is the element of extinguishment with no residue? Katamā ca, bhikkhave, anupādisesā nibbānadhātu? It’s when a mendicant is a perfected one, with defilements ended, who has completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their heart’s goal, utterly ended the fetter of continued existence, and is rightly freed through enlightenment. Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu arahaṁ hoti khīṇāsavo vusitavā katakaraṇīyo ohitabhāro anuppattasadattho parikkhīṇabhavasaṁyojano sammadaññāvimutto. For them, everything that’s felt, being no longer relished, will become cool right here. Tassa idheva, bhikkhave, sabbavedayitāni anabhinanditāni sīti bhavissanti. This is called the element of extinguishment with no residue. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, anupādisesā nibbānadhātu. These are the two elements of extinguishment.” Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve nibbānadhātuyo”ti.

The Buddha spoke this matter. Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. On this it is said: Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

“These two elements of extinguishment <j>have been explained “Duve imā cakkhumatā pakāsitā, by the Clear-eyed One, <j>the unattached, the unaffected. Nibbānadhātū anissitena tādinā; One element pertains to this life—Ekā hi dhātu idha diṭṭhadhammikā, that with residue <j>though the conduit to rebirth has ended; Saupādisesā bhavanettisaṅkhayā; and that with no residue, <j>which pertains to what follows this life, Anupādisesā pana samparāyikā, where all states of existence cease. Yamhi nirujjhanti bhavāni sabbaso.

Those who have fully understood <j>the unconditioned state—Ye etadaññāya padaṁ asaṅkhataṁ, their minds freed, the conduit to rebirth ended—Vimuttacittā bhavanettisaṅkhayā; attained to the heart of the Dhamma, <j>they delight in ending, Te dhammasārādhigamā khaye ratā, the unaffected ones have given up <j>all states of existence.” Pahaṁsu te sabbabhavāni tādino”ti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard. Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

Sattamaṁ.