Yellow Robe - A Real Buddhist's Journal

The Third Noble Truth - THE CESSATION OF SUFFERING (DUKKHA NIRODHA ARIYA SACCA)

The Buddha, having attained the Supreme Enlightenment, not only probed into the real Truth of Suffering and its root cause, but also its complete cessation and the Way how to attain it. The cessation is total exhaustion of rebirth, pain, sorrow and so on, i.e. Nibbana, the Supreme Blissful Peace. Nibbana is not an abode, nor a plane, but the accomplishment of the Noble Eightfold Path. It is the highest stage of purity of mind which can be obtained only by the highest degree of morality, concentration and insight wisdom. Hence, there is no attachment to life or existence, no selfhood, no desire for passion and lust. On the whole, not a single taint of craving is found in Nibbana.

As the flame of a lamp is extinguished when the oil is dried up and the wick is burnt out, so it is with the nature of Nibbana, where greed, anger and ignorance are absolutely destroyed and uprooted, not only is the stratum of mind-body existence totally terminated, but also the Supreme Blissful Peace (Santi sukha) can be experienced by self- realization. The evolution of life-process comes to a final stop in Nibbana.

The Nibbanic state or nature, of transcendental Peace cannot be fully expressed in words, in thought, or in any form of similes in the worldly sense of the term. But in actuality, it is the most supreme state of peace where there is no rebirth and as a result all suffering, pain, sorrow grief, lamentation, etc. exist no more.

It is absolute peace, tranquillity and fulfillment: no anguish is there for him who has ended his journey and is free from all sorrow who is emancipated in every way and has destroyed all attachments.

There are no more wanderings in Samsara for such a one, who like the earth has no resentment, is firm in character like a city gate-post and as pure as a deep pool free from mud .... Calm is the mind, calm is the speech and calm are the actions of him who rightly understanding, is wholly liberated and at peace." (Dhammapada Arahhanta-vagga)

The Pali term "nirodha" means "Nirujjhatia ettati nirodho" that in Nibbana all sufferings ceases, Anuppadoeva nirodho anuppada nirodho" means that in Nibbana, there is no state or nature of whirling in Samsara , i.e., total void of all planes of existences for one who has attained.

Therefore "nirodha" is meant in four categories: (1 ) in the sense of release from Samsara (nissaranattho); (2) tranquil peace (vivekatho); (3) unconditioned state (asankhatattho) and (4) deathlessness (amatattho).

With reference to this truth the Buddha declared in the Dhammacakka Sutta:

"Thus, Bhikkhus, is the Noble Truth of Cessation of Suffering, the complete cessation, giving up, abandonment of that craving, complete release from that craving and complete detachment."