Words That Are Just So Not Otherwise

From the night he fully awakened, Monks, until the night he attains Final Nibbāna (Final Enlightenment), in this interval, whatever he speaks, talks of, and explains, all that is just so, not otherwise; therefore he is called The Tathāgata.

As he speaks, Monks, so he does; as he does, so he speaks.

(Reference: AN 4.23)

In this Teaching a disciple of Gotama Buddha, shares that Gotama Buddha is referred to as “The Tathāgata” from the night he was considered to be “fully awakened” (i.e. Enlightened) until he attains “Final Nibbāna” (i.e. death).

Nibbāna = Pāli Language

Nirvana = Sanskrit Language

Enlightenment = English Language

One can attain Enlightenment during their lifetime where the mind will be peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy - permanently. One can still experience physical pain associated with injuring the physical body, but the mind will relate to the pain differently than in the unEnlightened mental state. The Enlightened mind will not be shaken up by the physical pain or experience any discontentedness associated with the physical pain. Instead, the mind can continue to reside peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy while understanding the impermanent nature of the physical pain.

The physical pain is there for a reason to notify the mind that something needs to be addressed in the physical body and actions should be taken through wise decisions to eliminate the physical pain. Physical pain will not be eliminated through the attainment of Enlightenment but it will be significantly reduced as the mind does not experience physical pain in the same way in the Enlightened mental state.

It is not until “Final Nibbāna” (i.e. death) at the break up of the body where the mind and the physical body separates that the mind will experience “Final Nibbāna”. The final attachment of the mind existing in the physical body will be eliminated and there will no longer be any rebirth. An Enlightened being has escaped The Cycle of Rebirth.

Gotama Buddha would most often refer to himself as “The Tathāgata”.

The term Tathāgata is often thought to mean “one who has discovered the truth”, “one who shares the truth”, “one who has thus gone”, or “one who has thus come”. This is understood as signifying that The Tathāgata is beyond all coming and going - beyond impermanence sharing the truth of The Natural Laws of Existence that lead to Enlightenment. There are, however, other interpretations and the precise original meaning of the word is not certain.

Gotama Buddha is quoted on numerous occasions in the Pāli Canon (the source of his Teachings) as referring to himself as “The Tathāgata” instead of using the pronouns me, I, or myself. This may be meant to emphasize by implication that The Teaching is spoken by one who has transcended the human condition, one beyond the otherwise endless Cycle of Rebirth and death, (i.e. beyond discontentedness of mind).

The term Tathāgata has a number of possible meanings.

Gotama Buddha understood the use of the pronouns, me, I, or myself is unfitting to refer to the human condition as there is “no self”. You will find detailed Teachings on The Universal Truth of Non-self in the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1) of this same book series in the chapter titled “The Four Noble Truths: Establishing Right View” and “Dissolving the Ego: Ego Serves No Purpose”.

The term Tathāgata is a way to refer to himself without using the pronouns me, I, or myself.

Other meanings for the term Tathāgata include:

• He who has arrived in such a fashion, (i.e. who has worked his way upwards to perfection for the world’s good).

• He who, by the path of wisdom, has come at the real understanding of things.

• He who has won Truth.

• He who has discerned Truth.

• He who declares Truth.

Additionally, it is inaccurate to say that Gotama Buddha attained Enlightenment in one day or one night. While there are several people in the world that might believe that Gotama Buddha sat down under a tree, meditated, and instantaneously attained Enlightenment, Gotama Buddha himself when speaking on this topic describes his Enlightenment as a “gradual practice and gradual progress”. You will learn these Teachings for yourself as you continue to investigate more chapters in this book and other volumes of this book series. Anyone who is familiar with Enlightenment through The Teachings shared by Gotama Buddha will understand that an Enlightened mind takes significant effort and work to attain. It is not possible to attain Enlightenment in one day, one night, a few days, a few nights, or a few months.

Gotama Buddha himself took six (6) years to progress to Enlightenment and ultimately became known as The Perfectly Enlightened One from a certain day going forward. However, he did not attain Enlightenment in one day, but instead was considered to be Enlightened from his 35th birthday going forward.

The Perfectly Enlightened One was born, attained Enlightenment, and died all on the same lunar day over the course of 80-years.

He was born in the year 563 BCE, attained Enlightenment in the year 528 BCE, and died in the year 483 BCE. You can visit the physical sites of his birth, attainment of Enlightenment, his first discourse, and his death in Nepal and Northeastern India as a way to pay tribute, respect, and gratitude to his lifetime of dedication to help the world understand The Teachings that lead to complete peace and tranquility of mind known as liberation of the mind or Enlightenment.