<p>There are two kinds of Nibbana, namely: (i) Nibbana that can be experienced &amp; (ii) Nibbana that is the ending of sense experience which can only be inferred. To quote:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>Bhikkhus, there are these two Nibbāna-elements. What are the two? The Nibbāna-element with residue left and the Nibbāna-element with no
  residue left.</em></p>
  
  <p><em>What, bhikkhus, is the Nibbāna-element with residue left? Here a bhikkhu is an arahant, one whose taints are destroyed, the holy life
  fulfilled, who has done what had to be done, laid down the burden,
  attained the goal, destroyed the fetters of being, <strong>completely released
  through final knowledge (enlightenment)</strong>. However, his five sense faculties remain
  unimpaired, by which he still experiences what is agreeable and
  disagreeable and feels pleasure and pain. It is the extinction of
  attachment, hate and delusion in him that is called the
  Nibbāna-element with residue left.</em></p>
  
  <p><em>Now what, bhikkhus, is the Nibbāna-element with no residue left? Here a bhikkhu is an arahant … completely released through final
  knowledge. For him, here in this very life, <strong>all that is experienced,
  not being delighted in, will be extinguished</strong>. That, bhikkhus, is
  called the Nibbāna-element with no residue left.</em></p>
  
  <p><em>Iti 44</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>The inferred Nibbana cannot occur without experiencing the known enlightened Nibbana. </p>

<p>The Nibbana that can be known occurs after/with <em>enlightenment</em>. </p>

<p>The Nibbana that occurs when a lighted lamp, having taken away the oil and the wick, will not light again, is only inferred &amp; not the primary goal of Buddhism because it cannot occur without the Nibbana of enlightenment. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>Just as an oil lamp burns in dependence on oil &amp; wick; and from the termination of the oil &amp; wick — and from not being provided any other
  sustenance — it goes out unnourished; even so, when sensing a feeling
  limited to the body, one discerns that 'I am sensing a feeling limited
  to the body.' When sensing a feeling limited to life, one discerns
  that 'I am sensing a feeling limited to life.' One discerns that 'With
  the break-up of the body, after the termination of life, <strong>all that is
  sensed, not being relished, will grow cold right here</strong>.'</em></p>
  
  <p><em>MN 140</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>In summary, the question is inferring there is a destination (i.e. Nibbana) without a path (i.e. enlightenment). The question ignores the special teaching of the Buddha, namely, the Four Noble Truths: </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>Ete kho, bhikkhave, ubho ante anupagamma majjhimā paṭipadā tathāgatena abhisambuddhā cakkhukaraṇī ñāṇakaraṇī upasamāya abhiññāya
  sambodhāya nibbānāya saṃvattati.</em></p>
  
  <p><em>A middle path, O bhikkhus avoiding the two extremes, has been discovered by the Tathagata-a path which opens the eyes, and bestows
  understanding, which leads to peace of mind, to the higher wisdom, to
  full enlightenment, to Nirvana!</em></p>
  
  <p><em>SN 56.11</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>That 'sambodhāya' is translated as 'enlightenment' or 'awakening' is irrelevant to the question because the question wrongly assumes 'Nibbana' is darkness, death &amp; annihilation.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-11T01:24:53.003Z
2017-04-11T01:59:23.313Z
2017-04-11T01:59:23.313Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>One place where I know &quot;enlightenment&quot; is used is in <a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/btg/btg17.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this version</a> (which was published in 1894):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>A middle path, O bhikkhus avoiding the two extremes, has been discovered by the Tathagata-a path which opens the eyes, and bestows understanding, which leads to peace of mind, to the higher wisdom, to full enlightenment, to Nirvana!</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Wikipedia's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_in_the_West#19th_century" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Buddhism in the West</a> suggests that's one of the early references (that there's nothing earlier than the 19th century).</p>
<p>It's word with a history of meaning in the West (see e.g. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Age of Enlightenment</a>).</p>
<p>Bhikkhu Bodhi uses the word &quot;enlightenment&quot; a lot, e.g. in his book <em>In the Buddha's Words</em>. He uses it to translate words like <a href="http://www.buddha-vacana.org/gloss.html#sambodhi" rel="nofollow noreferrer">sambodhi</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>sambodhi: [sam+bodhi] complete awakening, perfect knowledge, complete enlightenment. Designates the awakening of the Buddha and the arahants.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Some other translators choose variations on the word &quot;awake&quot; (e.g. &quot;self-awakened&quot;) instead of enlightened; which (awakened) is apparently a more literal translation.</p>
<p>According to Wikipedia (&quot;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlightenment_in_Buddhism" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Enlightenment in Buddhism</a>&quot;),</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The English term enlightenment is the western translation of the term bodhi, &quot;awakening&quot;, which was popularised in the Western world through the 19th century translations of Max Müller. It has the western connotation of a sudden insight into a transcendental truth.</p>
<p>The term is also being used to translate several other Buddhist terms and concepts used to denote insight (prajna, kensho and satori);[1] knowledge (vidhya); the &quot;blowing out&quot; (Nirvana) of disturbing emotions and desires and the subsequent freedom or release (vimutti); and the attainment of Buddhahood, as exemplified by Gautama Buddha.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Very occasionally in Pali the Buddha is praised as <em>ukkādhāraṃ</em> translated &quot;torch-bearer&quot;.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-10T23:01:07.917Z
As you mention, it seems the Seven Factors of Enlightenment is a direct translation of Bodhi to Enlightenment https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Factors_of_Enlightenment
Ravindranath Akila
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-10T23:07:43.527Z
There's more, about the history of the translation, [here on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlightenment_in_Buddhism#Translation).
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-11T01:46:46.990Z
That 'sambodhāya' is translated as 'enlightenment' or 'awakening' is irrelevant to the question because the question wrongly assumes 'Nibbana' is darkness & death. Regards.
Dhamma Dhatu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-11T15:22:32.787Z
@Dhammadhatu I think the "nirvana" metaphor is of a flame being blown out or extinguished; and so the question was, why "become *enlightened*", which is a metaphor with the opposite meaning.
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-11T20:18:13.540Z
There are two kinds of flames: the flames of defilements & the flame of life. Thus, there are two kinds of Nibbana. Regards
Dhamma Dhatu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-10T17:32:17.407Z
2017-04-10T17:32:17.407Z
2020-06-17T09:56:10.877Z
ChrisW
<p>I feel the word enlightenment conveys the wrong meaning if used in context of nibbana. For example, Buddha says that nibbana is similar to a lighted lamp, having taken away the oil and the wick, will not light ("as though a lamp was extinguished" Rathana Sutta - Sutta Nipatha, Chulla Waggo, 2-1, 237). I'm interested in knowing how this word was associated with Theravada Buddhism if anyone knows early references of such usage. </p>

<p>Thanks in advance. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-10T16:22:04.270Z
It seems to me you're asking why and when the English-language word "enlightenment" came to be used in English-language descriptions/translations of Buddhism.
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-10T17:36:47.367Z
It Tibetan, the same word (Jangchub) is used to qualify the Arhatship of a Sravaka, that of a Pratyekabuddha, and the enlightenment of a Buddha. We speak of "three types of enlightenment." This shows that it is not a case of English translation messing things up.
Tenzin Dorje
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-10T22:46:37.040Z
@ChrisW yes. Actually I'm curious why didn't people use a more adequate word.
Ravindranath Akila
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-11T01:21:20.617Z
Please quote exactly from the Rathana Sutta what you are referring to. Thanks
Dhamma Dhatu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-12T12:57:48.423Z
There are 2 terms in Chinese but there is only one in Eng "Enlightenment". The 2 terms: a)開悟 b)明心見性. It's hard to be Eng'd but try a): 開 open (a gate with two doors unlocked, graphically), 悟 my heart (left 'heart' when written at left, right is 'me'/ 'I' - formed by top '5', bottom 'mouth'/'opening for influx' = (isn't it the 5 Aggregations to formed the Atta? but the character was before Buddhism ever spread to China). 悟 cannot be Eng'd, clumsily explaint: understanding beyond intellectual, similar to intuition. In full: Opening the Gate to the Understanding beyond Intellect...
Mishu 米殊
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-12T13:07:24.533Z
there are more terms related:覺, 遍知, 見道, 出三界... so it's unconcerned for automatically i will match the Eng terms to understand what those Eng. articles are trying to convey :)
Mishu 米殊
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-12T13:10:24.277Z
From Enlightenment to Nirvana, there still a long way to go. Enlightenment is just opening the gate, the next is to trip further on, very graphical, again :))
Mishu 米殊
<theravada><enlightenment>
When was the word enlightenment introduced into Theravada Buddhism?
# When was the word enlightenment introduced into Theravada Buddhism?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-04-10)

I feel the word enlightenment conveys the wrong meaning if used in context of nibbana. For example, Buddha says that nibbana is similar to a lighted lamp, having taken away the oil and the wick, will not light ("as though a lamp was extinguished" Rathana Sutta - Sutta Nipatha, Chulla Waggo, 2-1, 237). I'm interested in knowing how this word was associated with Theravada Buddhism if anyone knows early references of such usage.

Thanks in advance.

**Tags:** theravada, enlightenment

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It seems to me you're asking why and when the English-language word "enlightenment" came to be used in English-language descriptions/translations of Buddhism.  
> **username_2**: It Tibetan, the same word (Jangchub) is used to qualify the Arhatship of a Sravaka, that of a Pratyekabuddha, and the enlightenment of a Buddha. We speak of "three types of enlightenment." This shows that it is not a case of English translation messing things up.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 yes. Actually I'm curious why didn't people use a more adequate word.  
> **username_3**: Please quote exactly from the Rathana Sutta what you are referring to. Thanks  
> **username_4**: There are 2 terms in Chinese but there is only one in Eng "Enlightenment". The 2 terms: a)開悟 b)明心見性. It's hard to be Eng'd but try a): 開 open (a gate with two doors unlocked, graphically), 悟 my heart (left 'heart' when written at left, right is 'me'/ 'I' - formed by top '5', bottom 'mouth'/'opening for influx' = (isn't it the 5 Aggregations to formed the Atta? but the character was before Buddhism ever spread to China). 悟 cannot be Eng'd, clumsily explaint: understanding beyond intellectual, similar to intuition. In full: Opening the Gate to the Understanding beyond Intellect...  
> **username_4**: there are more terms related:覺, 遍知, 見道, 出三界... so it's unconcerned for automatically i will match the Eng terms to understand what those Eng. articles are trying to convey :)  
> **username_4**: From Enlightenment to Nirvana, there still a long way to go. Enlightenment is just opening the gate, the next is to trip further on, very graphical, again :))  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-04-10. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

One place where I know "enlightenment" is used is in [this version](http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/btg/btg17.htm) (which was published in 1894):

> A middle path, O bhikkhus avoiding the two extremes, has been discovered by the Tathagata-a path which opens the eyes, and bestows understanding, which leads to peace of mind, to the higher wisdom, to full enlightenment, to Nirvana!

Wikipedia's [Buddhism in the West](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_in_the_West#19th_century) suggests that's one of the early references (that there's nothing earlier than the 19th century).

It's word with a history of meaning in the West (see e.g. [Age of Enlightenment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment)).

Bhikkhu Bodhi uses the word "enlightenment" a lot, e.g. in his book *In the Buddha's Words*. He uses it to translate words like [sambodhi](http://www.buddha-vacana.org/gloss.html#sambodhi):

> sambodhi: [sam+bodhi] complete awakening, perfect knowledge, complete enlightenment. Designates the awakening of the Buddha and the arahants.

Some other translators choose variations on the word "awake" (e.g. "self-awakened") instead of enlightened; which (awakened) is apparently a more literal translation.

According to Wikipedia ("[Enlightenment in Buddhism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlightenment_in_Buddhism)"),

> The English term enlightenment is the western translation of the term bodhi, "awakening", which was popularised in the Western world through the 19th century translations of Max Müller. It has the western connotation of a sudden insight into a transcendental truth.
>
> The term is also being used to translate several other Buddhist terms and concepts used to denote insight (prajna, kensho and satori);[1] knowledge (vidhya); the "blowing out" (Nirvana) of disturbing emotions and desires and the subsequent freedom or release (vimutti); and the attainment of Buddhahood, as exemplified by Gautama Buddha.

Very occasionally in Pali the Buddha is praised as *ukkādhāraṃ* translated "torch-bearer".

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: As you mention, it seems the Seven Factors of Enlightenment is a direct translation of Bodhi to Enlightenment https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Factors_of_Enlightenment  
> **username_1**: There's more, about the history of the translation, [here on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlightenment_in_Buddhism#Translation).  
> **username_3**: That 'sambodhāya' is translated as 'enlightenment' or 'awakening' is irrelevant to the question because the question wrongly assumes 'Nibbana' is darkness & death. Regards.  
> **username_1**: @Dhammadhatu I think the "nirvana" metaphor is of a flame being blown out or extinguished; and so the question was, why "become *enlightened*", which is a metaphor with the opposite meaning.  
> **username_3**: There are two kinds of flames: the flames of defilements & the flame of life. Thus, there are two kinds of Nibbana. Regards  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-04-11. Score: 1

There are two kinds of Nibbana, namely: (i) Nibbana that can be experienced & (ii) Nibbana that is the ending of sense experience which can only be inferred. To quote:

> *Bhikkhus, there are these two Nibbāna-elements. What are the two? The Nibbāna-element with residue left and the Nibbāna-element with no
> residue left.*
>
> *What, bhikkhus, is the Nibbāna-element with residue left? Here a bhikkhu is an arahant, one whose taints are destroyed, the holy life
> fulfilled, who has done what had to be done, laid down the burden,
> attained the goal, destroyed the fetters of being, **completely released
> through final knowledge (enlightenment)**. However, his five sense faculties remain
> unimpaired, by which he still experiences what is agreeable and
> disagreeable and feels pleasure and pain. It is the extinction of
> attachment, hate and delusion in him that is called the
> Nibbāna-element with residue left.*
>
> *Now what, bhikkhus, is the Nibbāna-element with no residue left? Here a bhikkhu is an arahant … completely released through final
> knowledge. For him, here in this very life, **all that is experienced,
> not being delighted in, will be extinguished**. That, bhikkhus, is
> called the Nibbāna-element with no residue left.*
>
> *Iti 44*

The inferred Nibbana cannot occur without experiencing the known enlightened Nibbana.

The Nibbana that can be known occurs after/with *enlightenment*.

The Nibbana that occurs when a lighted lamp, having taken away the oil and the wick, will not light again, is only inferred & not the primary goal of Buddhism because it cannot occur without the Nibbana of enlightenment.

> *Just as an oil lamp burns in dependence on oil & wick; and from the termination of the oil & wick — and from not being provided any other
> sustenance — it goes out unnourished; even so, when sensing a feeling
> limited to the body, one discerns that 'I am sensing a feeling limited
> to the body.' When sensing a feeling limited to life, one discerns
> that 'I am sensing a feeling limited to life.' One discerns that 'With
> the break-up of the body, after the termination of life, **all that is
> sensed, not being relished, will grow cold right here**.'*
>
> *MN 140*

In summary, the question is inferring there is a destination (i.e. Nibbana) without a path (i.e. enlightenment). The question ignores the special teaching of the Buddha, namely, the Four Noble Truths:

> *Ete kho, bhikkhave, ubho ante anupagamma majjhimā paṭipadā tathāgatena abhisambuddhā cakkhukaraṇī ñāṇakaraṇī upasamāya abhiññāya
> sambodhāya nibbānāya saṃvattati.*
>
> *A middle path, O bhikkhus avoiding the two extremes, has been discovered by the Tathagata-a path which opens the eyes, and bestows
> understanding, which leads to peace of mind, to the higher wisdom, to
> full enlightenment, to Nirvana!*
>
> *SN 56.11*

That 'sambodhāya' is translated as 'enlightenment' or 'awakening' is irrelevant to the question because the question wrongly assumes 'Nibbana' is darkness, death & annihilation.


---

