
THE MIND STILLED - Nibbāna Sermon - 21 – Part (392)
The vortical interplay between consciousness and name-and-form has
the same background of ignorance. In fact, it is like the seed of the entire
process. A disease is diagnosed by the characteristics of the germ. Even
so, the Buddha pointed out, that the basic principle underlying the
samsāric vortex is traceable to the vortical interplay between
consciousness and name-and-form, going on within our minds.
This germinal vortex, between consciousness and name-and-form, is
an extremely subtle one that eludes the limitations of both time and space.
This, indeed, is the timeless principle inherent in the law of pațicca
samuppāda, or "dependent arising". Therefore, the solution to the whole
problem lies in the understanding of this law of dependent arising.
We have mentioned on a previous occasion that the sankhata, or the
"prepared", becomes asankhata, or the "unprepared", by the very
understanding of the 'prepared' nature of the sankhata." The reason is
that the prepared appears to be 'so', due to the lack of understanding of its
composite and prepared nature. This might well appear a riddle.
The faring round in samsāra is the result of ignorance. That is why
final deliverance is said to be brought about by wisdom in this
dispensation. All in all, one extremely important fact emerges from this
discussion, namely the fact that the etymology attributed to the term
Tathāgata by the Buddha is highly significant.
It effectively explains why he refused to answer the tetralemma
concerning the after death state of the Tathāgata. When a vortex has
ceased, it is problematic whether it has gone somewhere or joined the
great ocean. Similarly, there is a problem of identity in the case of a
Tathāgata, even when he is living. This simile of the ocean gives us a clue
to a certain much-vexed riddle-like discourse on Nibbãna.
Many of those scholars, who put forward views on Nibbāna with an
eternalist bias, count on the Pahārādasutta found among the Eights of the
Anguttara Nikāya." In fact, that discourse occurs in the Vinaya
Calavagga and in the Udāna as well." In the Pahārädasutta, the Buddha
gives a sustained simile, explaining eight marvellous qualities of this
dispensation to the asura king Pahārāda, by comparing them to eight
marvels of the great ocean. The fifth marvellous quality is stated as
follows:
May all sentient beings find the Path leading to The cessation of suffering, Nibbana.
Dhammapada Team