55. The Visible Nibbana

AN 3:55 The Visible Nibbana

Translated from the Pali by Nyanaponika Thera and Bhikkhu Bodhi

Once the brahmin Janussoni approached the Blessed One … and said to him:

“It is said, Master Gotama, ’Nibbana is directly visible.’ In what way, Master Gotama, is Nibbana directly visible, immediate, inviting one to come and see, worthy of application, to be personally experienced by the wise?”

“When, brahmin, a person is impassioned with lust … depraved through hatred … bewildered through delusion, overwhelmed and infatuated by delusion, then he plans for his own harm, for the harm of others, for the harm of both; and he experiences in his mind suffering and grief. But when lust, hatred, and delusion have been abandoned, he neither plans for his own harm, nor for the harm of others, nor for the harm of both; and he does not experience in his mind suffering and grief. In this way, brahmin, Nibbana is directly visible, immediate, inviting one to come and see, worthy of application, to be personally experienced by the wise.

“Since he experiences the complete destruction of lust, hatred, and delusion, in this way, brahmin, Nibbana is directly visible, immediate, inviting one to come and see, worthy of application, to be personally experienced by the wise.”