The Suitable Way for Attaining Nibbāna (Enlightenment) (Fourth Discourse)

Monks, I will teach you the way that is suitable for attaining Nibbāna (Enlightenment).

Listen to that and attend closely, I will speak…

What do you think, Monks, is the eye permanent or impermanent?

‘Impermanent, Venerable Sir.’

Is what is impermanent discontentedness or contentedness?

‘Discontentedness, Venerable Sir.’

Is what is impermanent, discontentedness, and subject to change fit to be regarded thus: This is mine, this I am, this is my ‘self’?

‘No, Venerable Sir.’

Are forms permanent or impermanent? Is eye-consciousness permanent or impermanent? Is eye-contact permanent or impermanent? Is any feeling that arises with eye-contact as condition - whether pleasant or painful or neither painful-nor-pleasant permanent or impermanent?

‘Impermanent, Venerable Sir.’

Is the ear permanent or impermanent? Is the nose permanent or impermanent? Is the tongue permanent or impermanent? Is the body permanent or impermanent? Is the mind permanent or impermanent? Is any feeling that arises with ear-contact, nose-contact, tongue-contact, body-contact, mind-contact as condition permanent or impermanent?

‘Impermanent, Venerable Sir.’

Is what is impermanent discontentedness or contentedness?

‘Discontentedness, Venerable Sir.’

Is what is impermanent, discontentedness, and subject to change fit to be regarded thus: This is mine, this I am, this is my ‘self’?

‘No, Venerable Sir.’

Seeing thus, Monks, the instructed Noble Disciple experiences a fading away of strong feelings towards the eye, towards forms, a fading away of strong feelings towards eye-consciousness, a fading away of strong feelings towards eye-contact, a fading away of strong feelings towards whatever feeling arises with eye-contact as condition-whether pleasant or painful or neither painful-nor-pleasant.

(All the below were restated as above.)

He experiences a fading away of strong feelings towards the ears…towards the nose… towards the tongue…towards the body…towards the mind...towards whatever feeling arises with mind-contact as condition-whether pleasant or painful or neither painful-nor-pleasant.

Experiencing a fading away of strong feelings, he becomes free from strong feelings. Through freedom from strong feelings (his mind) is liberated. When it is liberated, there comes the knowledge: It’s liberated.

He understands: Destroyed is birth, the holy life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more for this state of existence.

This, Monks, is the way that is suitable for attaining Nibbāna (Enlightenment).

(Reference: SN 35.150)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares a Teaching to walk Students through reflecting on his Teachings to discover the truth so that they can acquire wisdom.

With asking his Students questions, they can investigate The Teachings through reflection and discover the truth rather than believing anything that he shares.

Through understanding that The Six Sense Bases are impermanent a Practitioner trains the mind to eliminate holding on to strong feelings related to the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind.

With the elimination of strong feelings and being freed from the strong feelings produced by craving/desire/attachment, the Practitioner gains the knowledge that the mind is well liberated towards the attainment of Enlightenment.

The Practitioner then understands that having attained Enlightenment, there is no further rebirth in The Cycle of Rebirth.