Hoa Vo Uu (Buddha Dharma Education Association)
Venerable Shravasti Dhammika
The Buddha’s Words of Wisdom
As a lotus is unsoiled by water, even so, Nĩrvãna is unsoiled by defilements. This is the one special quality of lotus that is present in Nĩrvãna.
As cool water is a means of allaeying fever, even so, Nĩrvãna, which is cool, is the means of allaying the fever of all the defilements.
Again, as water is a means of quenching the thrist of men and beasts when they are exhausted, frightened, thristy and overcome by heat, even so is Nĩrvãna a means of dispelling the craving for sense pleasures and the craving for more and continued becoming. These are the two special qualities of water that are prsent in Nĩrvãna.
As an antodte is the salvation of beings who are afflicted by poison, even so, Nĩrvãna is the salvation of beings who are afflicted by the defilements. Again, an antodote puts an end to disease; even so, Nĩrvãna puts an end to all sorrows. And again, an antidote is life-giving nectar, even so, Nĩrvãna is a life-giving nectar. There are the three special qualities of an antidote that are presetn in Nĩrvãna.
As the great ocean is empty of corpses, even so, Nĩrvãna is empty of the corpses of defilements. Again, the great ocean is vast, unbounded and not filled by all the rivers that flow into it; even so is Nĩrvãna vast, unbounded and no filled by the beings who attain it. And again, the great ocean is the home of great creatures; even so, Nĩrvãna is the home of Noble Ones, great beings who are stainless, their defilements destroyed, who have attained the powers and become masters of their own mind. And finally, the great ocean is blossoming with countless, various and abundant corals; even so Nĩrvãna blossoming with countless, various, abundant and quite pure corals of knowledge and freedom. There are the four special qualities of the great ocean that are present in Nĩrvãna.
As food is the sustainer of lifespan of all beings, even so, Nĩrvãna, when it is realized, is the sustainer of the lifespan by driving out of old age and dying. Again, food is the giver of strength of the psychic powers in all beings; it tis the producer of beauty in all beings. Even so, Nĩrvãna, when realized, is the producer of special qualities in all beings. And again, food is the calmer of the distress in all beings; even so, Nĩrvãna, when realized, is the calmer of the distress of the defilements in all beings. And finally, food is the remover of weakness of exhaustion in all beings; even so, Nĩrvãna, when realized, is the remover of all the weakness of exhaustion in all beings due to sorrow. These are the five special qualities of food that are present in Nĩrvãna.
As space is not born, does not age or die, does not cease here or arise there, is hard to define, cannot be stolen be thieves, is supported by nothing, is the realm of birds, without obstruction and unending—even so, Nĩrvãna is not born, does not not age or die, does not cease here or arise there, is hard to define, cannot be stolen by thieves, is supported by nothing, is the realm of the Noble Ones, without obstruction and unending, These are the eleven qualities of space that are present in Nĩrvãna.
As a precious gem is the granter of desires, even so is Nĩrvãna the granter of desires. As a precious gem gives delight, even so does Nĩrvãna give delight. As a precious gem is rich in lustre, even so is Nĩrvãna. These are the three special qualities of presious gem that are present in Nĩrvãna.
As red sandalwood is hard to obtain, even so, Nĩrvãna is hard to obtain. Again, red sandalwood is unequalled for its lovely perfume; even so is Nĩrvãna unequalled for its lovely perfume. Yet again, red sandalwood is praised by good men; even so is Nĩrvãna is praised by the Noble Ones. These are the three special qualities of red sandalwood that are present in Nĩrvãna.
As the skimming of ghee has a beautiful colour, even so, Nĩrvãna has the colour of special qualities. The skimming of ghee has a sweet smell; even so, Nĩrvãna has the sweet smell of virtue. Again, the skimming of ghee is flavourful; even so, Nĩrvãna is flavourful. These are the three special qualities of the skimming of ghee that are present in Nĩrvãna.
As the mountain peak is lofty, even so, Nĩrvãna is lofty; as a mountain peak is unshakable, even so is Nĩrvãna unshakable; as a mountain peak is difficult for the defilements to climb, even so is Nĩrvãna difficult for the defilements to climb. And again, as no seed can take root on a mountain peak, even so, no defilement can take root in Nĩrvãna. Finally, as a mountian peak has neither like nor dislike, even so, Nĩrvãna has neither like or dislike. These are the five special qualities of mountain peak that are present in Nĩrvãna.
