Nibbāna is attained only through knowing the Truth

Among the teachings proclaimed by the Buddha, remember this: Knowing the Truth (sacca) is of utmost importance. Without knowing the Truth, one cannot become a Stream-enterer (sotāpanna), Once-returner (sakadāgāmī), Non-returner (anāgāmī), Arahant, Buddha, or Paccekabuddha. Since none of these states are attainable, no one can attain Nibbāna without knowing the Truth. Within the Truth lies Nibbāna. Until one knows the Truth, they cannot attain Nibbāna—the cessation of all suffering (dukkha), the extinguishing of defilements (kilesa). Understand this: Nibbāna does not exist in the mind-stream of one ignorant of the Truth. Without knowing the Truth, one cannot know Nibbāna. Nibbāna is connected to the aggregates (khandhas). As stated in the Kathāvatthu scripture: "Nibbāna is not separate from the aggregates, nor is the person separate from Nibbāna." Since the aggregates embody the Truth of Suffering (dukkha sacca), and Nibbāna embodies the Truth of Cessation (nirodha sacca), one cannot realize Nibbāna without first comprehending the suffering inherent in the aggregates. Nibbāna is found through observing the aggregates. The aggregates reveal dukkha sacca; through dukkha sacca, one realizes nirodha sacca (Nibbāna). Without seeing suffering, one will never see cessation, for they are intrinsically linked. Thus, to seek Nibbāna, first observe the aggregates. Those afraid of aging, sickness, death, or rebirth in woeful states must see the aggregates to see Nibbāna; only then will suffering cease. To end suffering, first recognize dukkha sacca—the aggregates themselves. Nirodha sacca arises alongside it. Once dukkha sacca is seen, great peace follows. Merely worshipping the Buddha cannot grant Nibbāna without knowing the Truth; it only leads to favorable rebirths. The Buddha even dismissed Vakkali for excessive devotion, fearing it hindered his understanding of Truth. The Buddha gave this simile: "Imagine a lake 13 miles wide and deep. If one flicks water from it seven times with a blade of grass, the water removed is negligible compared to what remains. Similarly, the suffering remaining after realizing the Truth is like those seven drops; the rest—boundless as the lake—vanishes." Before I knew the Truth, I died "on the tip of others’ tongues" (e.g., as a fish or frog eaten by others) and fell into the four woeful states. The Buddha’s omniscient mind cannot count such lives—all due to ignorance (avijjā). Upon becoming a Stream-enterer, only seven drops of suffering remain. Mere morality (sīla) without Truth-knowledge is incomplete. Ignorance (avijjā) perpetuates saṃsāra: "Through ignorance, volitional formations arise... consciousness arises... birth arises." (Paṭiccasamuppāda) Birth itself is dukkha sacca. Thus, avijjā ceaselessly generates suffering. Without Truth, one mistakes the aggregates for happiness, fueling avijjā → saṅkhāra → viññāṇa → birth → aging-death. The cycle spins endlessly—morality may lead to heaven, but ignorance drags one to hell. The suffering accumulated through avijjā is as vast as the lake’s water; only Truth reduces it to seven drops. Therefore, remember: Nibbāna does not exist for those ignorant of Truth. The millionaire Todeyya buried forty crores daily, yet upon death, he became a dog. Why? Wealth came from past merit, but ignorance barred liberation. New suffering persisted. Venerable Dr. Ashin Parami