si^la (q.v.). - Contemplation on, s. anussati (4).
training, higher: adhisi^la-sikkha^; s. sikkha^.
(Sanskrit nirva^na): lit.”extinction” (nir + ? va, to cease blowing, to become extinguished); according to the commentaries, ”freedom from desire” (nir+ vana). Nibba^na constitutes the highest and ultimate goal of all Buddhist aspirations, i.e. absolute extinction of that life-affirming will manifested as greed, hate and delusion, and convulsively clinging to existence; and therewith also the ultimate and absolute deliverance from all future rebirth, old age, disease and death, from all suffering and misery. Cf. Parinibba^na.
"Extinction of greed, extinction of hate, extinction of delusion: this is called Nibba^na" (S. XXXVIII. 1).
The 2 aspects of Nibba^na are:
(1) The full extinction of defilements (kilesa-parinibba^na), also called sa-upa^di-sesa-nibba^na (s. It. 41), i.e.”Nibba^na with the groups of existence still remaining” (s. upa^di). This takes place at the attainment of Arahatship, or perfect holiness (s. ariya-puggala).
(2) The full extinction of the groups of existence (khandha-parinibba^na), also called an-upa^di-sesa-nibba^na (s. It. 41, A. IV, 118), i.e.”Nibba^na without the groups remaining”, in other words, the coming to rest, or rather the ”no-more-continuing” of this physico-mental process of existence. This takes place at the death of the Arahat. - (App.: Nibba^na).
Sometimes both aspects take place at one and the same moment, i.e. at the death of the Arahat; s. sama-si^si^.
"This, o monks, truly is the peace, this is the highest, namely the end of all formations, the forsaking of every substratum of rebirth, the fading away of craving, detachment, extinction, Nibba^na" (A. III, 32).
"Enraptured with lust (ra^ga), enraged with anger (dosa), blinded by delusion (moha), overwhelmed, with mind ensnared, man aims at his own ruin, at the ruin of others, at the ruin of both, and he experiences mental pain and grief. But if lust, anger and delusion are given up, man aims neither at his own ruin, nor at the ruin of others, nor at the ruin of both, and he experiences no mental pain and grief. Thus is Nibba^na visible in this life, immediate, inviting, attractive, and comprehensible to the wise" (A. III, 55).
"Just as a rock of one solid mass remains unshaken by the wind, even so neither visible forms, nor sounds, nor odours, nor tastes, nor bodily impressions, neither the desired nor the undesired, can cause such a one to waver. Steadfast is his mind, gained is deliverance" (A, VI, 55).
"Verily, there is an Unborn, Unoriginated, Uncreated, Unformed. If there were not this Unborn, Unoriginated, Uncreated, Unformed, escape from the world of the born, the originated, the created, the formed, would not be possible" (Ud. VIII, 3).
One cannot too often and too emphatically stress the fact that not only for the actual realization of the goal of Nibba^na, but also for a theoretical understanding of it, it is an indispensable preliminary condition to grasp fully the truth of anatta^ (q.v.), the egolessness and insubstantiality of all forms of existence. Without such an understanding, one will necessarily misconceive Nibba^na - according to one”s either materialistic or metaphysical leanings - either as annihilation of an ego, or as an eternal state of existence into which an ego or self enters or with which it merges. Hence it is said:
"Mere suffering exists, no sufferer is found;
The deed is, but no doer of the deed is there;
Nibba^na is, but not the man that enters it;
The path is, but no traveler on it is seen."
(Vis.M. XVI)
Literature: For texts on Nibba^na, see Path, 36ff. - See Vis.M. XVI. 64ff. - Anatta^ and Nibba^na, by Nyanaponika Thera (WHEEL 11); The Buddhist Doctrine of Nibba^na, by Ven. P. Vajiranana & F. Story (WHEEL 165/166).
The 2 terms kilesa- and khandha-parinibba^na (or nibba^na) are found only in the Com.; their corresponding 2 aspects sa-upa^disesa and anupa^disesa-nibba^na, however, are mentioned and explained in It. 44 of the Sutta Canon.
”arising”, ”rebirth”, is a synonym for patisandhi (q.v.).
bha^giya si^la (-sama^dhi, -pan~n~a^): ”morality (concentration, wisdom) connected with penetration”; s. ha^na-bha^giya-si^la.
s. anatta^.
”overcoming by the opposite,” s. paha^na.
Paramita == 波羅蜜多
It means to cross over from this shore of births and deaths to the other shore which is the Nirvana.
The Six Paramita or means of so doings are
(1) dana - charity/giving
(2) sila - moral/conduct/taking precepts
(3) ksanti - patience
(4) virya - vigor/devotion/energy
(5) dhyana - contemplation/meditation
(6) prajna - wisdom.
The Ten Paramita are the above plus
(7) upaya - use of expedient or proper means
(8) pranidhana - vow of bodhi and helpfulness
(9) bala - strength
(10) intelligence
Childers gives the list of ten as the perfect exercise of
charity/almsgiving, morality, renunciation, wisdom, energy/effort, patience, truth, resolution/determination, kindness/universal love and resignation/equanimity.
Each of the ten is divided into ordinary, superior and unlimited perfection, making up to thirty in total.
Patience == 忍辱
endurance, the third Paramita. There are groups of two, three, four, five, six, ten and fourteen, indicating various forms of patience, equanimity, repression, forbearance, both in mundane and spiritual things. Patience refers to bearing insult and distress without resentment.
or forbearance (khanti): one of the 10 perfections (pa^rami^, q.v.).
the 4 bodily: iriya^patha (q.v.).
For theory, practice and realization, s. pariyatti.
of the disciple, Gradual development of the Eightfold Path in the: In many suttas occurs an identical passage that outlines the gradual course of development in the progress of the disciple. There it is shown how this development takes place gradually, and in conformity with laws, from the very first hearing of the doctrine, and from germinating faith and dim comprehension, up to the final realization of deliverance.
"After hearing the law, he is filled with confidence, and he thinks: ”Full of hindrances is household life, a refuse heap; but the homeless life (of a monk) is like the open air. Not easy is it, when one lives at home, to fulfill in all points the rules of the holy life. How if now I were to cut off hair and beard, put on the yellow robe, and go forth from home to the homeless life?” And after a short time, having given up his possessions, great or little, having forsaken a circle of relations, small or large, he cuts off hair and beard, puts on the yellow robe, and goes forth from home to the homeless life.
Having thus left the world, he fulfills the rules of the monks. He avoids the killing of living beings and abstains from it; without stick or sword, conscientious, full of sympathy, he is desirous of the welfare of all living beings. He avoids stealing ... avoids unchastity ... avoids lying ... tale-bearing ... harsh language ... vain talk.
"He abstains from destroying vegetal germs and plants; eats only at one time of the day; keeps aloof from dance, song, music and the visiting of shows; rejects floral adornment, perfumes, ointment, as well as any other kind of adornment and embellishment. High and gorgeous beds he does not use. Gold and silver he does not accept ... keeps aloof from buying and selling things ....
"He contents himself with the robe that protects his body, and with the alms-bowl with which he keeps himself alive. Wherever he goes, he is provided with these two things, just as a winged bird in flying carries its wings along with him.
"By fulfilling this noble domain of morality (si^la) he feels in his heart an irreproachable happiness."
In what follows thereafter it is shown how the disciple watches over his 5 senses and his mind, and by this noble restraint of the senses (indriya-samvara) feels in his heart an unblemished happiness; how in all his actions he is ever mindful and clearly conscious; and how, being equipped with this lofty morality (si^la), and with this noble restraint of the senses (indriya-samvara), and with mindfulness and clear consciousness (sati-sampajan~n~a), he choses a secluded dwelling, and freeing his mind from the 5 hindrances (ni^varana, q.v.) he reaches full concentration (sama^dhi, q.v.); and how thereafter, by developing insight (vipassana^ q.v.) with regard to the impermanency (anicca), misery (dukkha) and impersonality (anatta^, q.v.) of all phenomena of existence, he finally realizes deliverance from all cankers and defilements, and thus the assurance arises in him:
"For ever am I liberated,
This is the last time I am born,
No new existence waits for me."
Cf. D.1, 2f; M. 27, 38, 51, 60, 76; A. IV, 198; X, 99: Pug. 239, etc.
s. patipada^, abhabbagamana - p. in morality, etc., s. ha^nabha^giya, etc. - Purification by knowledge and vision of path-progress, s. visuddhi (VI). - p. of the disciple, s. foll.
sense-: s. patigha.
”existing group”.”this word is usually translated by ”personality”, but according to the commentaries it corresponds to sat-ka^ya, ”existing group”, hence not to Sanskrit sva-ka^ya, ”own group” or ”own body”. In the suttas (e.g. M. 44) it is said to be a name for the 5 groups of existence (khandha): "Sakka^ya, o Brother Visa^kha, is said by the Blessed One to be a name for the 5 ”groups as objects of clinging” (upa^da^na-kkhandha), to wit: corporeality, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness." - See foll.
sama^patti kusalata^, -thiti-kusalata^, -uttha^nakusalata^: skilfulness in entering into concentration, in remaining in it, and in rising from it. Cf. S.XXXIV, llff.