The Dhātu Sutta
On the Two Nibbāna-elements (Nibbāna-dhātu)
[222] This discourse was spoken by the Blessed One, the Arahant, the Fully Awakened One. Therefore, I have heard as follows:
“Bhikkhus (bhikkhu), there are two Nibbāna-elements (nibbāna-dhātu). What are the two?
The Nibbāna-element with residue remaining (sa-upādisesa nibbāna-dhātu) and the Nibbāna-element with no residue remaining (an-upādisesa nibbāna-dhātu).
1. The Nibbāna-element with Residue (sa-upādisesa nibbāna-dhātu)
“And what, bhikkhus, is the Nibbāna-element with residue?
Here, a bhikkhu in this Dhamma and Discipline is an Arahant—with the taints destroyed (arahant khīṇāsava)—who has lived the holy life, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, attained his own true goal, and utterly destroyed the fetters of existence through right knowledge.
Yet, that bhikkhu still experiences agreeable and disagreeable feelings, still experiences pleasure and pain, because the five faculties (pañcindriyāni)—which are by nature unbroken—still remain.
Bhikkhus, the fading away of lust (rāga), the fading away of hatred (dosa), and the fading away of delusion (moha) in that bhikkhu—this, we call the Nibbāna-element with residue (sa-upādisesa nibbāna-dhātu).”
2. The Nibbāna-element without Residue (an-upādisesa nibbāna-dhātu)
“And what, bhikkhus, is the Nibbāna-element without residue?
Here, a bhikkhu in this Dhamma and Discipline is an Arahant—with the taints destroyed—who has lived the holy life, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, attained his true goal, utterly ended the fetters of existence, and is liberated by right knowledge.
For such a bhikkhu, all feeling (vedanā) in this very body will grow cold, becoming incapable of being delighted in by any defilements such as craving (taṇhā).
Bhikkhus, this is called the Nibbāna-element without residue (an-upādisesa nibbāna-dhātu).
These, bhikkhus, are the two Nibbāna-elements.”
Verse
Two Nibbāna-elements (nibbāna-dhātu) were proclaimed by the Tathāgata (tathāgata), the Visioned One, firm and unshaken, freed from craving and views.
One Nibbāna-element exists here and now— called with-residue (sa-upādisesa) because craving that leads to rebirth has completely ended.
The other Nibbāna-element is the utter cessation of all becoming, existing hereafter, called without-residue (an-upādisesa).
Those who understand this unconditioned state, whose minds are liberated through the ending of craving, rejoice in Nibbāna— the end of all defilements.
Having attained the essential Dhamma, stable, they have abandoned all forms of existence.”
Thus the Blessed One spoke; therefore I have heard it thus.
End of the Seventh Dhātu Sutta.
Short Pāli Glossary (concise, intensive)
- Nibbāna-dhātu — the Nibbāna-element; the mode or aspect of final liberation.
- Sa-upādisesa — “with residue remaining,” Nibbāna realized while the body still lives.
- An-upādisesa — “without residue,” the complete final Nibbāna at the breakup of the body.
- Arahant / khīṇāsava — one whose defilements are destroyed; liberated.
- Upādi — the remaining aggregates sustained by past kamma.
- Pañcindriyāni — the five faculties: eye, ear, nose, tongue, body.
- Rāga / dosa / moha — lust, hatred, delusion.
- Taṇhā — craving; the root of renewed becoming.
- Vedanā — feeling; sensation experienced through the body-mind.
- Tathāgata — epithet of the Buddha meaning “Thus-Gone/Thus-Come.”