Summary of Nirvana Element

Nirvana in the ultimate is the Nirvana Element (Nibbanadhatu) or cessation element (Nirodhadhatu). This means Saupadisesanibbanadhatu (Nirvana with life remaining) while Lord Buddha, Private Buddhas and the Arahants still possess the Five Aggregates and Anupadisesanibbanadhatu  (Nirvana without life remaining) when their Five Aggregates perish (die). The Nirvana Element is that which holds the state of Nirvana.

The Lord Buddha and the Arahants who have attained the Nirvana Element call themselves Dhammakaya, Brahmakaya, Dhammabhuta or Brahmabhuta because their bodies are attained Dhamma, namely, the nine Supra-mundane Dhammas.

In this sense Dhammakaya, Brahmakaya, Dhammabhuta or Brahmabhuta that have attained Path-Fruit-Nirvana are the nine Supra-mundane Dhammas or Nirvana Element. They are an eternal Dhamma, the holder of the qualities and/or the state of Nirvana. This is the reason why the Lord Buddha teaches, “You must be one who has Self as refuge (Attasarana), Self as shelter (Attadipa), nothing else as shelter. You must be one who has Dhamma as refuge (Dhammasarana), Dhamma as shelter (Dhammadipa), nothing else as shelter.”

The Self that the Lord Buddha refers to is the worldly self and the supra-mundane Self. This means that one must depend on oneself, the worldly self while one is still alive, to study and practice until one realizes and sees the Supra-mundane Self.