84. Compassion beyond Nirvana🔗

There is a very beautiful Buddhist story which has a deep meaning. A very powerful metaphysical science is expressed through this story.

Somebody asks Buddha, 'You talk so much about nibbana! When are you going to get into that state? Are you already in that state, or will you get into that state after leaving the body?'

Nibbana means the ultimate state of enlightenment – nirvana. In Sanskrit we call it nirvana, in Buddhism it is called nibbana. Nirvana means radiating enlightenment after you leave the body. The word is borrowed from Hinduism, from Shaiva Siddhanta.

Buddha laughs and says, 'Naturally, I cannot say I am in that state, because I am in the body.' And his next statement is shocking. He says, 'I am not going to achieve nibbana even if I leave the body. Only after the last person on the planet achieves it, I will achieve it. I will be waiting.'

That is why I tell you, Buddha is still waiting. Till the last person achieves enlightenment, he is not going to have nirvana; he will be waiting. The masters who commit with their disciples make themselves continuously available. This is the extreme of compassion! Buddha works as if you are going to get enlightened today, but he is ready to wait till the last person gets enlightenment. The power of passion and the power of patience, both express in their extreme only when you are authentic.

Please understand, when a disciple feels, 'My master is responsible for my enlightenment,' the master fulfils your anyakaara, your expectation of him. That is why, once I commit with you, I am with you till you become enlightened, in this life or whichever life. The energy which works through this body does its job and takes you to enlightenment!