Nibbuta Sutta

 

At that time,

 

the Brahmin Jāṇussoṇi went to the Awakened One.

paid loving respects,

sat beside him and asked:

 

Dear Gotama, I hear it said:

 

“Nibbāna is directly visible,

Nibbāna is directly visible.”[1]

 

But how is it dear Gotama?

How is Nibbāna

Directly visible, Immediate,

Inviting, Leading upwards,

To be experienced by the wise for oneself.[2]

 

[Selfish Desires]

 

Obsessed by selfish desires, brahmin,

Overpowered by wants and needs,

with a mind completely taken by it, [3]

 

People cause problems for themselves,

cause problems to others

cause problems to everyone, [4]

 

And they experience mental agony,

depression

and anxiety. [5]

 

But, when people let go of selfish desires, [6]

They do not cause problems for themselves,

They do not cause problems to others,

 

And they do not experience mental agony,

depression

and anxiety.

 

This is how liberation or Nibbāna is directly visible.

 

[Anger]

 

Obsessed by anger, brahmin, [7]

Overpowered by resentment,

with a mind completely taken by it,

 

People cause problems for themselves,

cause problems to others

cause problems to [everyone],

 

And they experience mental agony,

depression

and anxiety.

 

But when people let go of anger,

They do not cause problems for themselves,

They do not cause problems to others,

And they do not experience mental agony,

depression

and anxiety.

 

This is how liberation or Nibbāna is directly visible.

 

[Folly]

Obsessed by madness, brahmin, [8]

Overpowered by folly,

with a mind completely taken by it,

 

People cause problems for themselves,

cause problems to others

cause problems to [everyone],

And they experience mental agony,

depression

and anxiety.

 

But when people let go of madness,

They do not cause problems for themselves,

They do not cause problems to others,

 

And they do not experience mental agony,

depression

and anxiety.

 

This is how liberation or Nibbāna is directly visible.

 

[Complete Disappearance]

 

But Brahmin, when one experiences

 

The complete disappearance of selfish desires, 

The complete disappearance of anger,

and the complete disappearance of folly, [9]

 

 

This is how Nibbāna is

Directly visible, Immediate,

Inviting, Leading upwards,

To be experienced by the wise for oneself.

 

Excellent dear Gotama!

Excellent!

 

 

Just as if what had fallen over had been set upright,

or as what had been hidden was uncovered,

or as if the way was shown to someone who was lost,

or as if a light was shone in the darkness, thinking:

 

“Let those with vision see!”

 

In the same way Bhante,

The Awakened One Has brought forth

and elucidated the Dhamma in countless ways.

 

Bhante,

I go to the Awakened One as a refuge

to the Dhamma and to the bhikkkhu saṅgha.

 

May the Awakened One count me

as a lay follower from now on,

who has gone for refuge for life.