1On one occasion the Venerable Sāriputta was dwelling in Magadha at Nālakagāma. Then the wanderer Jambukhadaka [n.270] Spk: He was Sāriputta's nephew. The name means "Rose-apple-eater." approached the Venerable Sāriputta and exchanged greetings with him. When they had concluded their greetings and cordial talk, he sat down to one side and said to the Venerable Sāriputta:

2"Friend Sāriputta, it is said, ‘Nibbāna, Nibbāna.’ What now is Nibbāna?"

"The destruction of lust, the destruction of hatred, the destruction of delusion: this, friend, is called Nibbāna." [n.271] Spk argues against the idea that Nibbāna is the mere destruction of the defilements (kilesakkhayamattaṁ Nibbānaṁ), holding that Nibbāna is called the destruction of lust, etc., in the sense that lust, etc., are destroyed contingent upon Nibbāna (yaṁ gamma rāgādayo khı̄yanti, taṃ nibbānaṁ). For a fuller version of the argument, see Vism 507–9 (Ppn 16:67–74). The key point in the commentarial position is that Nibbāna is the unconditioned element apprehended with the attainment of the supramundane path. Because this experience of the unconditioned effects the destruction of the defilements, Nibbāna comes to be called the destruction of lust, hatred, and delusion, but it is not reducible to their mere destruction.

"But, friend, is there a path, is there a way for the realization of this Nibbāna?"

"There is a path, friend, there is a way for the realization of this Nibbāna." sn.iv.252

"And what, friend, is that path, what is that way for the realization of this Nibbāna?"

"It is, friend, this Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. This is the path, friend, this is the way for the realization of this Nibbāna."

"Excellent is the path, friend, excellent is the way for the realization of this Nibbāna. And it is enough, friend Sāriputta, for diligence."

1Ekaṁ samayaṁ āyasmā sāriputto magadhesu vihārati nālakagāmake. Atha kho jambukhādako paribbājako yenāyasmā sāriputto tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmatā sāriputtena saddhiṁ sammodi. Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho jambukhādako paribbājako āyasmantaṁ sāriputtaṁ etadavoca:

2"‘Nibbānaṁ, nibbānan’ti, āvuso sāriputta, vuccati. Katamaṁ nu kho, āvuso, nibbānan"ti?

"Yo kho, āvuso, rāgakkhayo dosakkhayo mohakkhayo – idaṁ vuccati nibbānan"ti.

"Atthi panāvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā etassa nibbānassa sacchikiriyāyā"ti?

"Atthi kho, āvuso, maggo atthi paṭipadā etassa nibbānassa sacchikiriyāyā"ti.

"Katamo panāvuso, maggo katamā paṭipadā etassa nibbānassa sacchikiriyāyā"ti?

"Ayameva kho, āvuso, ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo etassa nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya, seyyathidaṁ – sammādiṭṭhi sammāsaṅkappo sammāvācā sammākammanto sammāājīvo sammāvāyāmo sammāsati sammāsamādhi. Ayaṁ kho, āvuso, maggo ayaṁ paṭipadā etassa nibbānassa sacchikiriyāyā"ti.

"Bhaddako, āvuso, maggo bhaddikā paṭipadā etassa nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya. Alañca panāvuso sāriputta, appamādāyā"ti.

Paṭhamaṁ.