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The probable meaning of Nirvana
In Pali Buddhist
scripture, the word Nibbana (Sanskrit: nirvana) always appears in
context, never as a clear definition (and which would have produced closure).
For instance,
“Calming of all conditioned things, giving
up of all defilements, extinction of ‘thirst’, detachment, cessation,
Nibbana.” “O Bhikkhus,
whatever there may be things conditioned or unconditioned (this is
nonsense, my insertion), among them detachment is the highest.
That is to say, freedom from conceit, destruction of thirst, the uprooting
of attachment, the cutting off of continuity, the extinction of
thirst, detachment, cessation, Nibbana.” “The cessation
of continuity and becoming is Nibbana.” Whether or
not Nibbana sums up (or abstracts) the context elements or is wholly
different from them has remained a fruitful mystery to this day. What the
Buddha seems to be saying is that the elimination (i.e. stopping) of striving
(i.e. of becoming), and of its drivers (for instance, greed, hatred and
delusion), ends as Nibbana. In short, Nibbana ensues when striving (for life)
comes to rest. Ergo, Nibbana (Nirvana) = @ rest
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Nirvana
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