nibanna¶
Nirvana, in Buddhism, refers to the ultimate goal of spiritual liberation and the extinction of craving, hatred, and ignorance. The attributes of nirvana vary depending on different schools of Buddhism, but some of the common ones include:
- Permanent peace: Nirvana is a state of permanent peace and freedom from all forms of suffering and conflict.
- Freedom from rebirth: In nirvana, there is no more rebirth, as all conditions that lead to reincarnation have been completely extinguished.
- Complete understanding: Nirvana is a state of complete understanding and wisdom, which allows one to see things as they truly are.
- Immortality: In nirvana, there is no more death or aging, and one exists in a state of timelessness and immortality.
- Bliss: Nirvana is a state of ultimate happiness, contentment, and bliss.
- Equanimity: Nirvana is a state of complete equanimity and freedom from all attachments, aversions, and ignorance.
- Unconditional love: Nirvana is a state of unconditional love and compassion for all beings, free from all forms of hatred and ill-will.
graph TD;
Enlightenment-->Nirvana;
Enlightenment-->Bodhi;
Nirvana-->Samsara;
Bodhi-->Prajna;
Prajna-->Shunyata;
Bodhi-->Silas;
Silas-->Sila;
Silas-->Samadhi;
Silas-->Panna;
Silas-->Dana;| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Enlightenment | The state of perfect knowledge and wisdom, achieved by a Buddha after a period of spiritual development and meditation. |
| Nirvana | The ultimate goal of Buddhist practice, which is liberation from suffering and the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. |
| Bodhi | Refers to the awakening or enlightenment experienced by a Buddha, which allows them to fully understand the nature of reality and attain freedom from suffering. |
| Prajna | Refers to the wisdom or understanding that comes from deep meditation and insight into the true nature of reality, particularly the concept of emptiness. |
| Shunyata | The Buddhist concept of emptiness, which refers to the lack of inherent existence or substantiality in all phenomena. |
| Silas | Refers to the moral or ethical conduct that is an essential part of Buddhist practice. |
| Sila | Refers to ethical conduct or morality, which includes the Five Precepts (abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants) and other guidelines for right behavior. |
| Samadhi | Refers to the state of meditative concentration achieved through deep focus and mental discipline. |
| Panna | Refers to wisdom or understanding, particularly the understanding of the true nature of reality as taught by the Buddha. |
| Dana | Refers to generosity or giving, which is considered an important practice in Buddhism and one of the six perfections (paramitas) in Mahayana Buddhism. |
| Samsara | The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, which is seen as an endless cycle of suffering and dissatisfaction from which one can escape through spiritual practice. |
| Stage of Enlightenment | Pali Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Stream Entry | Sotapanna | First glimpse of Nirvana, at least 3 fetters broken |
| Once-Returner | Sakadagami | Reduced attachment and aversion, will return to human realm at most once more |
| Non-Returner | Anagami | No longer attached to desire realm, will not be reborn in human realm |
| Arahant | Arahant | Fully awakened, no longer bound by the 5 aggregates |
tmi¶
Nibbāna: Literally, the “unbinding” of the mind from passion, aversion, and delusion, and from the entire round of death and rebirth. As this term also denotes the extinguishing of a fire, it carries connotations of stilling, cooling, and peace. “Total nibbāna” in some contexts denotes the experience of awakening; in others, the final passing away of an arahant. Sanskrit form: Nirvāṇa.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana
Wandering in samsara is the result of failing to leave space and awareness as a unity and instead splitting them up into here and there. We have projected space as being there, while regarding awareness as being here. We split this unity of space and awareness up, fell into accepting and rejecting, hope and fear, affirming and denying, grasping at objects and fixating on the subject. That is how we ended up with the duality of samsara and nirvana – grasping the nondual as two.
Vajra Speech – Urgyen
Nirvana is the extinction of all notions. Birth is a notion. Death is a notion. Being is a notion. Nonbeing is a notion. In our daily lives, we have to deal with these relative realities. But if we touch life more deeply, reality will reveal itself in a different way.
Excerpt From The Heart Of The Buddha’s Teaching Hanh, Thich Nhat
Here’s some definition of Nirvana from the book fear
“Our true nature is nirvana”
“nirvana, the extinction of all notions”
Nirvana literally means cooling, the putting out of flames; in Buddhism, it refers to extinction of the afflictions brought about by our wrong perceptions. Nirvana isn’t a place to go or something belonging to the future. Nirvana is the true nature of reality, things as they are. Nirvana is available in the here and now. You are already in nirvana; you are nirvana, just as the wave is already the water.”
Excerpt From Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm Thich Nhat Hanh
turning confusion into clarity
…no longer slaves to our neurosis and egocentricities ...Nirvana is a state of mind …Samsara is a state of mind….
And what do we turn the mind toward? Toward itself. We work with our own mind as both the source of confusion and the source of clarity and contentment. We turn toward letting go of the misperceptions that keep us stuck in cycles of behavior that do not relieve our dissatisfaction. Letting go of these habits uncovers the freedom to make choices, meaning that we are no longer slaves to our neurosis and egocentricities, to our attractions and aversions. Knowing this freedom thoroughly, and allowing it to pervade our life, is called nirvana, liberation, awakening, or enlightenment. We also call this buddhahood. Uncovering this freedom is the path of dharma. Samsara is a state of mind. Nirvana is a state of mind. Just as the sun shines whether obscured by clouds or not, clarity exists in the midst of confusion and suffering.
cessation of notions¶
In Buddhism, Nirvana is often described as the ultimate goal of the spiritual path, representing a state of complete liberation from suffering and the cycle of rebirth. One way that Nirvana is described is as the cessation of notions or concepts.
Notions or concepts refer to the mental constructs that we use to interpret and make sense of the world around us. These include our ideas, beliefs, opinions, and judgments about ourselves, others, and the world. They are shaped by our past experiences, cultural conditioning, and personal biases.
While these mental constructs can be useful in navigating our everyday lives, they can also create suffering and confusion, especially when they are based on delusion, attachment, or aversion. For example, when we hold on to the notion of a permanent self or identity, we may experience fear, anxiety, and attachment to our self-image, which can lead to suffering.
Nirvana is said to be the cessation of these notions or concepts, as it represents a complete letting go of attachment, aversion, and delusion. In this state, the mind is completely free from all mental constructs and is liberated from the cycle of birth and death.
While Nirvana may seem abstract or unattainable, the Buddhist path offers practical teachings and practices to help us gradually let go of our notions and concepts and cultivate a more liberated, compassionate, and wise way of living.