‘Nibbāna’ – the ultimate goal of the Buddhist, has been variously
understood and interpreted in the history of Buddhist thought. One who
earnestly takes up the practice of the Noble Eightfold Path for the
attainment of this goal, might sometimes be dismayed to find this medley
of views confronting him. Right View, as the first factor of that path,
has always to be in the vanguard in one’s practice. In the interests of
this Right View, which one has to progressively ‘straighten-up’, a need
for clarification before purification might sometimes be strongly felt.
It was in such a context that the present series of 33 sermons on
Nibbāna came to be delivered.
The invitation for this series of sermons came from my revered teacher, the late Venerable Matara Sri Ñāṇārāma Mahāthera, who was the resident meditation teacher of Meetirigala Nissarana Vanaya Meditation Centre. Under his inspiring patronage these sermons were delivered once every fortnight before the group of resident monks of Nissarana Vanaya, during the period 12.08.1988 – 30.01.1991.
In these sermons I have attempted to trace the original meaning and significance of the Pali term Nibbāna (Skt. Nirvāna) based on the evidence from the discourses of the Pali Canon. This led to a detailed analysis and a reappraisal of some of the most controversial suttas on Nibbāna often quoted by scholars in support of their interpretations. The findings, however, were not presented as a dry scholastic exposition of mere academic interest. Since the sermons were addressed to a meditative audience keen on realizing Nibbāna, edifying similes, metaphors and illustrations had their place in the discussion. The gamut of 33 sermons afforded sufficient scope for dealing with almost all the salient teachings in Buddhism from a practical point of view.
Bhikku Nanananda.
To Listen:
To Listen:
To Read :
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