Dhamma Wheel Buddhist Forum

I am currently studying John Ross Carters Dhammapada translation. In verse 89 which reads:

Whose mind is fully well cultivated in the factors of
enlightenment,
Who, without clinging, delight in the rejection of grasping,
Lustrous ones, who have destroyed intoxicants,
They have, in (this) world, attained Nibaana.

In the line by line translation there is a note to the last verse:

They have, in (this) world, attained Nibbana

which reads:

In this world of khandas, and so forth, they have entered into Nibbana fully-that is, (1) "with substrata remaining" from the time of attaining Arahantship, on account of having exhausted the whirl of defilements; and (2) "without substrata remaining" at the cessation of the final (flicker of) thought, (at the end of life), on account of having exhausted the whirl of the khandas. Thus they have entered Nibbana fully by both (aspects of) Nibbana. The meaning is: (they are) gone to the state of undefinability like (the flame of) a lamp, without fuel.

In this note what does the word "substrata" refer to? I am hoping Venerable Dhammanado or someone well versed can shed some light on this for me. Thanks!

Hi,

Take a look at this sutta:

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... ml#iti-044" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Let me see if i get this. So the "substrata" (carters translation) and "fuel" (Thanissaro's translation) refer to the five aggregates. In the first case - "with substrata remaining" from the time of attaining Arahantship, on account of having exhausted the whirl of defilements; means that the "fires" of greed, hatred and delusion are absent while the khandas are still present. In the second case "without substrata remaining" at the cessation of the final (flicker of) thought, (at the end of life), on account of having exhausted the whirl of the khandas; means when the Arahant passes away there is no longer any aggregates here or anywhere else. Am i understanding this correctly?

Hi,

Yes, I think so. Except that the first case is called "with substrata/fuel remaining"

Yes you are absolutely right. I misprinted the first sentence. Thats what was throwing me off. Thank you!

For further reference, you may want to compare that translation with Daw Mya Tin's translation w/commentary.

Elohim wrote:For further reference, you may want to compare that translation with Daw Mya Tin's translation w/commentary.

Thank you for the link Elohim.