Summary

The state of Nirvana that Lord Buddha, the Private Buddhas (Paccekabuddha) and the Perfect Ones or Arhants have attained has the characteristics of self. According to the words of Lord Buddha in the Anattalakkhana Sutta and the verses of the Patisambhidamagga, it has ultimate essence and is eternal, happy of highest benefit, undying, and thus without birth, old age and pain. It is enduring, protection, and refuge, supremely void of non-self, defilements and all conditioned things related to self. It is without decay, enchantment, conditions and sorrow. Therefore, ultimate Nirvana, the Nirvana Element or cessation element exhibits characteristics of True Self and does not exhibit characteristics of non-self. Whoever holds the opinion that “whatever is non-self is not always impermanent and suffering” contradicts the words of Lord Buddha in the Anattalakkhana Sutta and the verses of the Patisambhidamagga, as well as the commentary and the sub-commentary cited above.