The History of Buddhist Thought c18.21

c18.21

the verb from the expression of a state to the expression of the achievement of an action: nirvāṇa is the state of release; parinirvāṇa is the attaining of that state. The monk parinirvāti “attains Nirvāṇa” at the time of enlightenment as well as at death. The P.T.S. Dictionary defines parinibbāna as “complete Nirvāṇa”, but immediately goes on to show that the same term is used of both kinds. Nirvāṇa at death is when a Buddha or an arahat anupādisesāya nibbānadhātuyā parinibbāyati “attains nirvāṇa with the nirvāṇa-element which is without a substrate of rebirth” (Dīgha, ii, 136). The word nibbāna is used in this definition of “final Nirvāṇa”. The nirvāṇa attained during life (at enlightenment) is defined in the same words except that saupādisesāya is used, “he attains nirvāṇa with the nirvāṇa-element which is with a substrate of rebirth.” When Buddha’s attainment of nirvāṇa is referred to, especially in the later literature, the nirvāṇa at death is generally meant, but if the distinction is expressed it is always by saupādisesa and anupādisesa (Skt. sopadhiśeṣa and nirupadhiśeṣa). See p. 131.