This teaching is from the section Shining the Light of Wisdom ↗️ of the book “In the Buddha’s Words” by Bhikkhu Bodhi.

Thus have I heard - The Blessed One, the Worthy One, has spoken thus:

"There are, bhikkhus, two Nibbāna elements. What are the two? The Nibbāna element with fuel remaining and the Nibbāna element with no fuel remaining.

And what, bhikkhus, is the Nibbāna element with fuel remaining?

Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is an arahant, with taints eradicated, having lived the spiritual life, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved the ultimate goal, severed the fetters of existence, and is fully liberated through right wisdom (complete comprehension of how things have come to be). However, his five sense faculties still operate. Because of their operation without impairment, he experiences what is agreeable and disagreeable, and feels pleasure and pain. The ending of passion (greed, desire, attachment), the ending of aversion (ill-will, hatred, resentment), the ending of delusion (assumption making tendencies, absence of close examination and verification) — this is called, bhikkhus, the Nibbāna element with fuel remaining.

And what, bhikkhus, is the Nibbāna element with no fuel remaining?

In this case, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu is an arahant, with taints eradicated, having lived the spiritual life, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved the ultimate goal, severed the fetters of existence, and is fully liberated through right wisdom. For him, bhikkhus, right here, all sensations will be cooled and not delighted in any longer. This is called, bhikkhus, the Nibbāna element without fuel remaining. These, bhikkhus, are the two elements of Nibbāna."

The Blessed One spoke thus, it is said:

"These two elements of Nibbāna were clarified

By the one with insight, detached and serene.

The first element pertains to this current life,

it is what remains when the bond to rebirth is broken;

The second element pertains to beyond this life,

where all states of existence utterly cease.

Those who, understanding this, attain the unconditioned state,

their minds liberated, the bond to rebirth broken;

reaching the essence of the Dhamma, delighting in its cessation,

such balanced ones relinquish all states of existence."

This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, thus have I heard.

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Related Teachings:

The effects of cultivating the eightfold path are gradual (DhP 273) - The Eightfold Path is the way of practice that culminates in the realization of Nibbana. The mind abiding in Nibbāna is calm, serene, content and at peace, these mental qualities are unconditionally experienced. Due to this, an enlightened being has blossoming personal and professional relationships, is freed from experiencing discontentment, and has a high degree of concentration and memory.

Gradual Training, Gradual Practice, and Gradual Progress (MN 107) - Gradual practice per the gradual training guidelines leads one to experientially observe for the cultivation of the mental qualities of an enlightened being.

33 Synonyms for Nibbāna (from SN 43.12 - 43.44) - This compilation of similar teachings is an invitation to broaden one’s personal understanding of what the state of Nibbāna is. While Nibbāna cannot be comprehended fully by an enlightened being, it is useful to have clarity about what it is and what it not.