Robin Beck

Nirvana: The Deathless

Nirvana, Deathlessness, & Emptiness

Does Nirvana mean realizing that all existence is transient (anicca), and all things are unsatisfactory (dukkha) , and there is no abiding self (anatta)?

See also: "The Unborn" @ Independent Nichiren, Tusker Sangha

Anguttara III,134; Dhammapada 277-279:

Sabbe sankhárá aniccá.
Sabbe sankhárá dukkhá.
Sabbe dhammá anattá.

All formations are impermanent.
All formations are unsatisfactory.
All phenomena, everything whatsoever, are not self.

The key word is formations. Formations are things which arise from causes and conditions. In others words; anicca, dukkha and anatta are qualities of conditioned existence.

Dhammapada Verses 277, 278 and 279

"Sabbe sankhara anicca" ti
yada pannaya1 passati
atha nibbindati dukkhe
esa maggo visuddhiya.

"Sabbe sankhara dukkha" ti
yada pannaya passati
atha nibbindati dukkhe
esa maggo visuddhiya.

"Sabbe sankhara anatta" ti
yada pannaya passati
atha nibbindati dukkhe
esa maggo visuddhiya.

Verse 277: "All conditioned phenomena are impermanent"; when one sees this with Insight-wisdom, one becomes weary of dukkha. This is the Path to Purity.

Verse 278: "All conditioned phenomena are dukkha"; when one sees this with Insight-wisdom, one becomes weary of dukkha. This is the Path to Purity.

Verse 279: "All phenomena (dhammas) are without Self"; when one sees this with Insight-wisdom, one becomes weary of dukkha. This is the Path to Purity.

Purity refers to the conditioned, the deathless, the unborn.

The Udana {the third book of the Khuddaka Nikaya}

There is an unborn,
an unbecome,
an unmade,
an unconditioned.

If there were not,
there could be no escape
from what is born, become, made, and conditioned.

But since there is
an unborn, an unbecome, an unmade, an unconditioned,
therefore is there release
from what is born, become, made, and conditioned.


"That the Buddha-Principle (Buddha-dhatu) or Buddha-Matrix (Tathagatagarbha) is the essence (svabhava) or Dharmakaya (ultimate level of being) of the Buddha and of all persons and creatures, in contrast to the five skandhas (impermanent components which make up the "mundane ego"); the Buddha-dhatu is the "True Self", which inheres in the Buddha's deepest being, as well as being truly present in our own body-and-mind complex, and into which we should "enter". Such "entry" is enabled when we have cleared away the kleshas (negative mental, moral and behavioural tendencies) from our inner world. The chief kleshas are desire, anger, delusion and pride." -- © Dr Tony Page 2004

"The Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra, as translated into English by Kosho Yamamoto and edited and revised by Dr. Tony Page (Nirvana Publications, London, 1999-2000)."
Nirvana Sutra on line

Posted by rbeck at February 7, 2007 03:43 PM