Dhamma attributes (5): Opaneyyiko

Worldlings do not have the experience of the Supramundane. Their mind has never attained magga-consciousness and phala-consciousness. Therefore, they have never realized Nibbāna. It is just because they have never attained magga-consciousness and phala-consciousness and never realized Nibbāna that they wallow in the mire of the woeful round of existences endlessly. If the lowest level of the supramundane Knowledge, as Stream-Entry, is attained, if sotāpatti-magga-consciousness has ever arisen in one, the yogi, as an ariya, has realized Nibbāna as clearly and unmistakably as he has seen something with his own eyes. Once this realization has taken place, he can make an end of all dukkha (i.e., the woeful round of rebirths) in utmost seven further existences in the fortunate destinations.

On one occasion, the Buddha placed a pinch of dirt on His finger-nail (by simply wishing it to happen so) and said to the Bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus, which is greater, this pinch of dirt on my finger-nail or the great earth?”

And the bhikkhus replied: “Venerable Sir, the dirt on the finger-nail is infinitesimal; the great earth is far greater beyond comparison.”

“Similarly, bhikkhus,” said the Buddha, “the number of existences that have been prevented from arising by sotāpatti-magga, by an ariya disciple, is as great as the great earth. The number of existences that remain to arise for him is as little as the pinch of dirt on my finger-nail (only seven at the most).”

Thus the supramundane factors have the effect of cutting down the role of the farer in saṃsāra into a few further existences only, with the ultimate effect of total release from saṃsāra, according to the attainment of each individual ariya. That being so, a virtuous one wishing to make an end of dukkha should give top priority to gain magga-phala. Even if one’s head be on fire, the extinguishing of the fire is not such a matter of urgency as the gaining of Path-Knowledge because fire on the head can destroy the present life only whereas, the fire of defilements within can cause endless trouble throughout saṃsāra. The supramundane dhamma should be borne in mind diligently until Path-Knowledge with its fruition is attained. Nibbāna should be made the mind-object with diligence. Thus, the nine supramundane factors are worthy of being constantly borne in one’s mind, opaneyyiko.