Expert: Justin Choo - 4/25/2009

Question
1) i) In the Dependent Origination, Mental Formation leads to Relinking Citta that later leads to Rebirth. Hence NO Mental Formation (NO THOUGHTS) = No Relinking Citta = No More Rebirths.
  ii) Attachment is the cause of Suffering (2nd Noble Truth) hence Non-Attachment is the cessation of Suffering (3rd Noble Truth), Negation of Attachment.
  iii) The doctrine of Annata also talks about Non- Attachment of the Mind which is Emptylessness which is NO THOUGHTS.
  iv) The "Sunyata" Suttas also talks about Emptylessness which is NO THOUGHTS.
  v) No Mental Formation (NO THOUGHTS) = No Feelings = No Perception = No Conciousness ( 5 Skandhas - In Reverse) = Achieving Emptylessness in all 4 states of mind.
  vi) NO LAST THOUGHTS during dieying state = PARI NIBBANA.

My question is : Is Niroda Samapatti = NIBBANA and why is it that Arahats always checks if they are going to die within 7 days (Duration for meditating in Niroda Samapatti), is it not good to die with no thoughts which is Nibbana?

2) When I meditate on Non-Attachment (Letting Go of all thoughts - Free the mind, just watching the thoughts as it comes and gradually fewer thoughts arises and than non)  I achieve No Thoughts and if No thought = Nibbana, how do I know if I'm not sleeping or is it Niroda Samapatti (Even Conciousness cease to exist - Temporary) or it that Nibbana for that matter?

3) What should I do after achieving this state (No Thoughts = No Mind)) if what I have achieve is not Nibbana?

With Metta
Tommy Yong

Answer
Hi Tommy Yong,

It would help me to review your comments if you could identify the source(s) where you got your information from.  

To the best of my knowledge, Niroda Samapatti is not Nibbana.  The only thing I heard of was that a person should not be in a state of NS for longer than 7 days, otherwise the physical body would not able to function.  

I have not experienced what you have described, so I am in no position to answer you authoritatively.  In normal meditation one would experience a moment of "acute concentration" which I would term it as "mental absorption" or "upacara samadhi".  

The normal response to any "experience" during meditation is to "just note" that experience; of course if you really have "no thought" you would not be able to "just note"!!  I think most of us would have the "thought" returning in no time.

This much I am able to comment.

Take care.

Justin Choo.

[I like to invite you to visit my blog:]
http://lifeislikethat999.blogspot.com/

[And these sites by Rev. Dhammika:]
http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/
http://www.buddhismatoz.com/