Nirvana Elements Supporting the Mental State

Nirvana (English), Nirvana (Sanskrit) or Nibbana (Pali) means:

1. Extinction (Atthagamana),
2. Passionless phenomena (Viragadhamma) where all defilements are abandoned (Apavagga).

The meanings of Nirvana in the sixth verse of the Abhidhanappadipika are:

1. The state of void of craving (Vana) that extinguishes the fire of lust is called Nirvana.
2. Nirvana is a passionless state that extinguishes all defilements.
3. Nirvana is a state free of all conditioned phenomena, void of all things that hold suffering (Upadhi). It is the end of craving and lust.
4. Because there is no more craving, it is called Nirvana.

Nirvana with and without Life Remaining

Nirvana is the ultimate state that the Perfect Ones or Arahants attain. As Lord Buddha states in the Khuddakanikaya, there are two types: living with remainder (Saupadisesa-nibbanadhatu) and without remainder (Anupadisesa-nibbanadhatu), "Monks, what are the two types of Nirvana Elements (Nibbanadhatu)? They are with remainder [Five Aggregates] (Saupadisesa-nibbanadhatu) and without remainder (Anupadisesa-nibbanadhatu)" (Kh. 25/222/258-259).

Nirvana with life remaining (Saupadisesanibbanadhatu)

Saupadisesanibbanadhatu is the state that the Perfect Ones or Arahant attains while still possessing the Five Aggregates:

Monks, what is Saupadisesanibbanadhatu? The monk in this dispensation who is an Arahant, a passionless one who has completed his holy life, done what is to be done, abandoned the burden, attained benefit for himself, extinguished the fetters of existence, and attained release by right knowledge still experiences pleasant and unpleasant objects, still feels happiness and suffering because all his five faculties still remain. Monks, I call the extinction of lust, the extinction of hatred, and the extinction of delusion of that monk Saupadisesanibbanadhatu.

An element with extinction of craving for existence that is called Nibbanadhatu seen in this world [in the present body] while still having Upadi [the Five Aggregates] remaining.

(Ibid.).

Nirvana without life remaining (Anupadisesanibbanadhatu)

Anupadisesanibbanadhatu is the case of the Arahant who died [destroyed the Five Aggregates], leaving only Nibbanadhatu eternally standing. It is not destroyed with the Five Aggregates at death. Lord Buddha states:

Monks, what is Anupadisesanibbanadhatu? The monk in this dispensation who is an Arahant, a passionless one, who has completed the holy life, done what is to be done, abandoned the burden, attained benefit for himself, extinguished the Fetters of existence, and attained release by right knowledge, all feelings [defilements such as craving] in the body of that monk can no longer be enjoyed. They have cooled [been extinguished]. Monks, I call this Anupadisesanibbanadhatu …

The element that exists as a potential state in this world and will be attained in the future when all existences have been extinguished in all respects is Nibbanadhatu [Nirvana Element] for which the Upadi [Five Aggregates] no longer remains.

(Ibid.)