Q30. What is the supreme reality for humanity?

~ By Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu ~

The Awakened One once said, ‘Buddhas say Nibbāna is supreme.’* Supreme means ‘the ultimate and highest good for humanity.’ In the international language of ethics, it is known by the Latin term summum bonum, the utmost goodness, the best and highest thing attainable by human beings in this very life. Buddhist students agree that if there is a summum bonum in Buddhism, it must be Nibbāna itself. So if someone asks what the summum bonum of Buddhism is, you should answer ‘Buddhas say Nibbāna is supreme.’**

(*) Nibbānaṃ paramaṃ vadanti Buddha.
(**) This concludes the first of the two lectures.

(From “Buddha-Dhamma for Inquiring Minds”)

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Buddha-Dhamma for Students (title of original translation) was composed of two talks given by Ajahn Buddhadāsa in January 1966 to students at Thammasat University, Bangkok. It was translated from the Thai by Rod Bucknell, and revised in 2018 by Santikaro Upasaka. To read/download as free ebook (pdf).

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For all English retreat talks, visit Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu.

For more information and free ebooks, visit Suan Mokkh – The Garden of Liberation.

Photo: Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives E-33