<blockquote>
  <p>"That question goes too far Brahman. No answer can encompass it. The
  aim of the holy life, Brahman, is immersion[6] in Nibbaana, it has
  Nibbaana for its final end, Nibbaana for its conclusion."</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-06T07:30:07.613Z
2015-09-06T07:30:07.613Z
Sankha Kulathantille
<p>In my opinion, "resort" is a bad translation for <code>patisaranam</code> (literally, something other things rest on) -- a better option in this particular context would be "apex". Compare with following simile from Milindapanha:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Like in a building with a pointed roof: whatever rafters they are, they all rest on the apex, lean towards the apex, meet at the apex, and the apex is pointed to as their chief. So is the <em>samadhi</em> in its relation to the other wholesome dharmas.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>It does make more sense this way, doesn't it:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>Brahman Unnabha</strong>: As the five faculties are of different scope and range, and do not share in each other's sphere of action, what is their <em>apex</em>, and who profits from their combined activity?</p>
  
  <p><strong>Buddha</strong>: Mind is their apex, and it is mind that profits from their combined activity.</p>
  
  <p><strong>B.U.</strong>: But, good Gotama, what is mind's apex?</p>
  
  <p><strong>B</strong>: Mind's apex, Brahman, is mindfulness.</p>
  
  <p><strong>B.U.</strong>: Then, good Gotama, what is the apex of mindfulness?</p>
  
  <p><strong>B</strong>: The apex of mindfulness, Brahman, is liberation.</p>
  
  <p><strong>B.U.</strong>: Then, good Gotama, what is the apex of liberation?</p>
  
  <p><strong>B</strong>: The apex of liberation is Nirvana.</p>
  
  <p><strong>B.U.</strong>: Then, good Gotama, what is the apex of Nirvana?</p>
  
  <p><strong>B</strong>: That question goes too far, Brahman.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-09-06T13:48:17.083Z
2015-09-06T14:17:42.470Z
2015-09-06T14:17:42.470Z
Andriy Volkov
<p>In <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn48/sn48.042.wlsh.html" rel="nofollow">Unnabho Brahmano Sutta: The Brahman Unnabha</a>  says  </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"There are, Brahman, these five sense-faculties... which do not share
  in each other's sphere of action. Mind is their resort, and it is mind
  that profits from their combined activity."</p>
  
  <p>"But, good Gotama, what is mind's resort?"</p>
  
  <p>"Mind's resort, Brahman, is mindfulness."[4]</p>
  
  <p>"Then, good Gotama, what is the resort of mindfulness?"[5]</p>
  
  <p>"The resort of mindfulness, Brahman, is liberation."</p>
  
  <p>"Then, good Gotama, what is the resort of liberation?"</p>
  
  <p>"The resort of liberation is Nibbaana."</p>
  
  <p>"Then, good Gotama, what is the resort of Nibbaana?"</p>
  
  <p>"That question goes too far Brahman. No answer can encompass it. The
  aim of the holy life, Brahman, is immersion[6] in Nibbaana, it has
  Nibbaana for its final end, Nibbaana for its conclusion."</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Is this suttha says Nibbaana resort on five seance faculties?  or If Not how can it seance?</p>

<pali-canon><nirvana>
What is the resort of Nibbaana?
# What is the resort of Nibbaana?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-09-06)

In [Unnabho Brahmano Sutta: The Brahman Unnabha](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn48/sn48.042.wlsh.html) says

> "There are, Brahman, these five sense-faculties... which do not share
> in each other's sphere of action. Mind is their resort, and it is mind
> that profits from their combined activity."
>
> "But, good Gotama, what is mind's resort?"
>
> "Mind's resort, Brahman, is mindfulness."[4]
>
> "Then, good Gotama, what is the resort of mindfulness?"[5]
>
> "The resort of mindfulness, Brahman, is liberation."
>
> "Then, good Gotama, what is the resort of liberation?"
>
> "The resort of liberation is Nibbaana."
>
> "Then, good Gotama, what is the resort of Nibbaana?"
>
> "That question goes too far Brahman. No answer can encompass it. The
> aim of the holy life, Brahman, is immersion[6] in Nibbaana, it has
> Nibbaana for its final end, Nibbaana for its conclusion."

Is this suttha says Nibbaana resort on five seance faculties? or If Not how can it seance?

**Tags:** pali-canon, nirvana


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-09-06. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

In my opinion, "resort" is a bad translation for `patisaranam` (literally, something other things rest on) -- a better option in this particular context would be "apex". Compare with following simile from Milindapanha:

> Like in a building with a pointed roof: whatever rafters they are, they all rest on the apex, lean towards the apex, meet at the apex, and the apex is pointed to as their chief. So is the *samadhi* in its relation to the other wholesome dharmas.

It does make more sense this way, doesn't it:

> **Brahman Unnabha**: As the five faculties are of different scope and range, and do not share in each other's sphere of action, what is their *apex*, and who profits from their combined activity?
>
> **Buddha**: Mind is their apex, and it is mind that profits from their combined activity.
>
> **B.U.**: But, good Gotama, what is mind's apex?
>
> **B**: Mind's apex, Brahman, is mindfulness.
>
> **B.U.**: Then, good Gotama, what is the apex of mindfulness?
>
> **B**: The apex of mindfulness, Brahman, is liberation.
>
> **B.U.**: Then, good Gotama, what is the apex of liberation?
>
> **B**: The apex of liberation is Nirvana.
>
> **B.U.**: Then, good Gotama, what is the apex of Nirvana?
>
> **B**: That question goes too far, Brahman.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-09-06. Score: 1

> "That question goes too far Brahman. No answer can encompass it. The
> aim of the holy life, Brahman, is immersion[6] in Nibbaana, it has
> Nibbaana for its final end, Nibbaana for its conclusion."


---

