Milinda’s Questions

Nibbāna Chapter

8. Question on Cessation and Nibbāna

The king asked:

“Venerable Nāgasena, is cessation nibbāna?”

“Yes, your majesty, cessation is nibbāna.”

“How, Venerable Nāgasena, is cessation nibbāna?”

“All those foolish ordinary people, your majesty, who delight in the internal and external sense bases, welcome them, remain clinging to them, and are carried away by that stream, are not free from birth, old age, death, sorrow, lamentation, suffering, anguish, and despair, they are not free from suffering, I say.

A well-taught noble disciple, your majesty, does not delight in the internal and external sense bases, nor welcome them, nor remain clinging to them. The one, not delighting in them, not welcoming them, not remaining clinging to them, is free from craving. From the cessation of craving, there is cessation of birth. From the cessation of birth, old age, death, sorrow, lamentation, suffering, grief, and despair cease, and thus there is the cessation of this whole mass of suffering. In this way, your majesty, cessation is nibbāna.”

“You are clever, Venerable Nāgasena!”

Question on Cessation and Nibbāna eighth