<p>I will answer your second question regarding enlightened beings feeling pain.</p>

<p>An arahat / Buddha does not create any new kamma, but they are still subject to the maturing of past kamma. This means that they can suffer physical pain but unlike us, there is no associated mental pain. See Sallatha Sutta (SN 36.6).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-23T15:49:46.067Z
2015-08-23T15:49:46.067Z
RobM
<p>There are two types of nirvana: <em>saupādisesa-nibbāna</em> (nirvana with remainder) and <em>anupādisesa-nibbāna</em> (nirvana without remainder) (Iti. 44). </p>

<p>It is true that for one who has attained <em>anupādisesa-nibbāna</em> there will be no more consciousness. This is because someone who has attained <em>anupādisesa-nibbāna</em> is dead*. It is the equivalent to the more familiar <em>parinibbāna</em> - "complete" nirvāna. For one who has attained <em>saupādisesa-nibbāna</em>, there is still the physical and mental formations that have been created as a result of being born as a human that need to work themselves out, including consciousness.</p>

<p><em>* Conventionally speaking; technically, they have become free from death, since they have become free from birth (arising).</em></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-28T05:26:47.873Z
Ven. @yuttadhammo, in my humble opinion, I think it's better to use "There are two interpretations for nirvana" rather saying "There are two types of nirvana". If not, reader may come to a wrong conclusion that there are two nibbana dhātu.
Damith
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-30T16:03:45.460Z
2015-07-30T16:03:45.460Z
yuttadhammo
<p>When the mind takes Nibbana as the object, all experiencing cease. But when enlightened beings do day to day activities, Nibbana is not the object of the mind. They do feel pain since there is experiencing. But they do not suffer. Being conscious of the pain is different from suffering due to pain. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-30T10:15:51.710Z
2015-07-30T10:15:51.710Z
Sankha Kulathantille
<p>In the Abhidhamma, it makes mention to 89 and 121 states of consciousness. It says there are four ultimate realities namely</p>

<ol>
<li>Consciousness</li>
<li>Mental Factors </li>
<li>Matter </li>
<li>Nibbana.
The first three are conditioned, nirvana is unconditioned. </li>
</ol>

<p>According the Abhidhamma, It states that persons who've attained nirvana no longer have consciousness. What does this mean exactly? </p>

<p>In the Mundane, sense-sphere, rootless consciousness, it says that “body consciousness, accompanied by pain” is the result of unwholesome karma. Does this mean that enlightened beings such as a Buddha or an arahant don't feel pain when they touch something hot? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-30T10:08:40.353Z
It's better if you provide a link to where it says "that persons who've attained nirvana no longer have consciousness"
Sankha Kulathantille
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-30T19:45:19.160Z
I suggest changing the question to "Consciousness in Nibbana", "after nibbana" is ambiguous: "after entering" (but there is no experience, so it is only vague expression) or "after coming back from nibbana".
eudoxos
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-30T21:33:59.690Z
@SankhaKulathantille it was on a video by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi. I think he said that in "2013 Abhidhamma Retreat 3/15 or 4/15." http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6l6jihH1ZQQ
user5380
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-30T21:34:49.647Z
@SankhaKulathantille I'm watching those videos whilst I read A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma by Bhikkhu Bodhi.
user5380
<theravada><nirvana><consciousness><abhidhamma>
Consciousness in Nibbana
# Consciousness in Nibbana

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-07-30)

In the Abhidhamma, it makes mention to 89 and 121 states of consciousness. It says there are four ultimate realities namely

1. Consciousness
2. Mental Factors
3. Matter
4. Nibbana.
   The first three are conditioned, nirvana is unconditioned.

According the Abhidhamma, It states that persons who've attained nirvana no longer have consciousness. What does this mean exactly?

In the Mundane, sense-sphere, rootless consciousness, it says that “body consciousness, accompanied by pain” is the result of unwholesome karma. Does this mean that enlightened beings such as a Buddha or an arahant don't feel pain when they touch something hot?

**Tags:** theravada, nirvana, consciousness, abhidhamma

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It's better if you provide a link to where it says "that persons who've attained nirvana no longer have consciousness"  
> **username_2**: I suggest changing the question to "Consciousness in Nibbana", "after nibbana" is ambiguous: "after entering" (but there is no experience, so it is only vague expression) or "after coming back from nibbana".  
> **username_0**: @SankhaKulathantille it was on a video by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi. I think he said that in "2013 Abhidhamma Retreat 3/15 or 4/15." http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6l6jihH1ZQQ  
> **username_0**: @SankhaKulathantille I'm watching those videos whilst I read A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma by Bhikkhu Bodhi.  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-07-30. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

There are two types of nirvana: *saupādisesa-nibbāna* (nirvana with remainder) and *anupādisesa-nibbāna* (nirvana without remainder) (Iti. 44).

It is true that for one who has attained *anupādisesa-nibbāna* there will be no more consciousness. This is because someone who has attained *anupādisesa-nibbāna* is dead\*. It is the equivalent to the more familiar *parinibbāna* - "complete" nirvāna. For one who has attained *saupādisesa-nibbāna*, there is still the physical and mental formations that have been created as a result of being born as a human that need to work themselves out, including consciousness.

*\* Conventionally speaking; technically, they have become free from death, since they have become free from birth (arising).*

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Ven. @username_4, in my humble opinion, I think it's better to use "There are two interpretations for nirvana" rather saying "There are two types of nirvana". If not, reader may come to a wrong conclusion that there are two nibbana dhātu.  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2015-07-30. Score: 6

When the mind takes Nibbana as the object, all experiencing cease. But when enlightened beings do day to day activities, Nibbana is not the object of the mind. They do feel pain since there is experiencing. But they do not suffer. Being conscious of the pain is different from suffering due to pain.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2015-08-23. Score: 1

I will answer your second question regarding enlightened beings feeling pain.

An arahat / Buddha does not create any new kamma, but they are still subject to the maturing of past kamma. This means that they can suffer physical pain but unlike us, there is no associated mental pain. See Sallatha Sutta (SN 36.6).


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