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 in graphics
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