Why hasn’t Nibbāna appeared yet? Because the friction is still too slow. Just as fire emerges when two bamboo sticks are rubbed together repeatedly, you should understand that practicing with anicca (impermanence) and magga (the path) is like rubbing to ignite the fire that is Nibbāna. If you repeatedly strike impermanence with the path, the fire-like Nibbāna will surely appear. However, for those of inferior roots (ahetuka, dvihetuka), how can Nibbāna arise? But for those who understand insight wisdom (vipassanā ñāṇa), they are tihetuka individuals (of superior roots). Even if one is tihetuka, if they do not rub, the fire will not emerge.
If you resolve to rub with viriya (energy) as the dominant factor or chanda (wish) as dominant, the fire will arise. However, if desire becomes dominant—thinking, "I must make the fire of Nibbāna emerge at all costs!"—then it becomes chandiddhipāda (accomplishment through desire). If energy becomes dominant and turns into iddhipāda (psychic power), one is impossible not to attain Nibbāna. But for one who strikes with body and mind, the fire-like Nibbāna will certainly blaze forth.
When you repeatedly strike with body and mind:
- First, you strike with udayabbaya ñāṇa (knowledge of arising and passing) at phenomena (saṅkhāra).
- As you observe more, you no longer perceive arising/passing but strike with bhaṅga ñāṇa (knowledge of dissolution) at dissolution.
- Next, you strike with baya ñāṇa (knowledge of fear) at these phenomena, seeing them as threatening.
- Then, you strike with ādīnava ñāṇa (knowledge of danger), seeing phenomena as inherent flaws.
- Finally, you strike with nibbidā ñāṇa (knowledge of disenchantment).
Remember: When nibbidā arises, vipassanā has become powerful. Vipassanā is now mature—fire is about to ignite! Disenchantment means Nibbāna’s fire is imminent. Hatred toward phenomena means the time is near. Just as vigorous rubbing generates heat and ensures fire, when magga (the path) strikes phenomena, udayabbaya ñāṇa arises. With repeated striking, bhaṅga ñāṇa (seeing only dissolution) emerges. Baya is hotter than bhaṅga; ādīnava hotter than baya; nibbidā hotter than ādīnava. After nibbidā, the path (magga ñāṇa) arrives—like fire igniting when heat peaks. All preceding ñāṇas merge into nibbidā.
From the Milindapañha, quoted in the Nāmarūpapariccheda:
"Paripakkakamenevam, paribhāvita bhāvanā;
Pariccajanti saṅkhāre, pakkhandanti asaṅkhate."
- Paripakkakamenevam: Rub in due order.
- Paribhāvita bhāvanā: Repeatedly cultivate.
- Pariccajanti saṅkhāre: Phenomena are abandoned.
- Pakkhandanti asaṅkhate: Wisdom leaps toward the unconditioned (Nibbāna).
First, wisdom engages phenomena. But when rubbed persistently, wisdom abandons saṅkhāra and flees toward asaṅkhata (the unconditioned). Your duty is to persist in striking phenomena with magga. Wisdom will naturally mature:
1. First, you strike with arising/passing.
2. Then with dissolution.
3. Then with danger.
4. Then with disenchantment.
Vipassanā is about persistent practice—striking phenomena repeatedly. "Progressing insight" means wisdom’s perspective shifts due to repeated striking. Teachers cannot label stages; practice reveals it.
The Dawn Metaphy
Just as dawn precedes sunrise, vipassanā precedes magga:
"Uggacchati yathādicco, purekkhitvāruṇaṃ tathā;
Vipassanaṃ purekkhitvā, maggadhammo pavattati."
(As the sun rises after dawn, magga arises after vipassanā.)
Vipassanā is the dawn; magga is the sun. If you prioritize vipassanā—observing impermanence diligently—magga ñāṇa will arise. Dawn (vipassanā) guarantees sunrise (Nibbāna). Crave Nibbāna? Prioritize vipassanā. Neither idle hope nor other tasks will bring it. Only vipassanā leads to magga.
Conclusion: Persist in "rubbing" phenomena with vipassanā. When wisdom matures, it abandons the conditioned and leaps toward Nibbāna—like fire igniting, like dawn breaking into day.
Dr. Ashin Pāramī
Comments
Post a Comment
Without insight meditation, it is incomplete to be a Buddhist.