There is That Base (Ud 8.1) ( lemmy.world )

This teaching is from the section Shining the Light of Wisdom of the book "In the Buddha's Words" by Bhikkhu Bodhi.

Thus have I heard — once the Blessed One was staying in Sāvatthi, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's Park. At that time, the Blessed One was instructing, inciting, inspiring, and gladdening the bhikkhus with a Dhamma talk related to Nibbāna. The bhikkhus were attentive, having applied themselves entirely, mentally gathered, with ears ready, listening to the Dhamma.

Then, knowing the significance of that moment, the Blessed One uttered this inspired utterance:

"Bhikkhus, there exists a base (āyatanaṁ),

• where there is neither earth, nor water, nor fire, nor wind;

• neither the base of infinite space, nor the base of infinite consciousness, nor the base of nothingness, nor the base of neither perception nor non-perception;

• neither this world, nor the other world, nor both, nor sun nor moon.

Here, bhikkhus, I say there is no coming, no going, no staying, no passing away, no arising. It is without support, without occurrence, and without object.

This, bhikkhus, is the end of suffering."

The Pali word āyatanaṁ is translated here as a base, as a frame of reference. It is similar to the use of base (as in the six sense bases). This word is also sometimes translated with other words such as a domain or a dimension.

One way to perhaps understand Nibbāna is as a frame of reference that emerges in one's experience from having let go of the frames of references (relating to the aggregate of perception) of this world, the other world, of the jhānas, and/or of the formless attainments. This letting go is rooted in understanding, in cultivated wisdom of seeing the benefits of doing so to the condition of one's mind and to one's personal/professional relationships.

One practices to realize this by establishing oneself in the frame of references of:

• body in and of itself: also referred to as the mindfulness of body

• feelings in and of itself: also referred to as the mindfulness of feelings

• mind in and of itself: also referred to as the mindfulness of mind

• mental qualities in and of itself: also referred to as the mindfulness of mental qualities.

The Buddha's instructions in establishing oneself in one of these frames of reference starts by abandoning of any craving and grief related to the world. And it is by practicing per the gradual training guidelines (MN 107) of:

1. purifying ethical conduct,

2. applying sense restraint,

3. moderation in eating,

4. being dedicated to meditation practice,

5. being situationally aware

that one is gradually learning to establish oneself in one of these four frames of mindfulness.

Related Teachings:

What Is Nibbāna? (SN 38.1) - Nibbāna is the ending of greed (lust, passion, attachment), the ending of hate (ill-will, resentment, aversion), the ending of delusion (assumption making tendencies, absence of close examination and verification) — this is called Nibbāna.

Steadying the mind against the poisons of greed, hate and delusion (AN 4.117)

33 Synonyms for Nibbāna (from SN 43.12 - SN 43.44) - This compilation of similar teachings is an invitation to broaden one's personal understanding of what the state of Nibbāna is.