Now, the problem with the above sutta is:Ven. Sariputta to the monks, "This Nibbana is pleasant, friends. This Nibbana is pleasant."
When this was said, Ven. Udayin said to Ven. Sariputta, "But what is the pleasure here, my friend, where there is nothing felt?"
Just that is the pleasure here, my friend: where there is nothing felt.
1. The description of Nibbana by Ven. Udayin is not common in the suttas because the suttas define Nibbana as: "the destruction of craving".
2. Also, other suttas correlate Nibbana with disenchantment, dispassion, non-attachment, etc.
3. Therefore, when non-Aryians read AN 9.34, because a non-Aryian has not tasted the freedom of Nibbana, they might believe Nibbana is the Cessation of Perception & Feeling (which is a state of unconsciousness; compared to a corpse in MN 43 ).
AN 9.34 continues with Ven. Sariputta describing more coarse forms of pleasant feelings (such as from sensuality); which the mind ceases to take delight in due to experiencing more subtle forms of pleasant feelings (such as the 1st jhana). The sutta ends with the verse that includes another official definition of Nibbana, namely, the complete ending of the mental fermentations (asava):
In conclusion, because Nibbana is not a feeling ("vedana"); Nibbana is not pleasant because it is "felt". Instead, Nibbana is non-attachment. Non-attachment is pleasant (but non-attachment is not a feeling/vedana).And, having seen [that] with discernment, his mental fermentations are completely ended. So by this line of reasoning it may be known how Unbinding is pleasant.
What do we think? Please discuss.When there is no clinging; the mind attains Nibbana.
MN 37; MN 140; SN 12.51; etc