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To a Buddhist, Nirvana marks the closure of worldly suffering and material desire; it terminates the perpetual cycle of life and death or "samsara". Nirvana is the state of being "unborn" and "unconditioned". Nirvana is a high state of happiness, difficult for average mortals to comprehend. As the third Noble Truth, Nirvana is the ultimate "holy grail" in the "vision quest" of Buddhism.

Nirvana can be achieved in a lifetime. It is not automatically equated with death. Hence, the immortality concept associated with nirvana may be secured in life. If Nirvana is achieved in one lifetime, then the death of this person secures "parinirvana", a kind of holistic, complete nirvana. There is no need for further lifetimes to evolve. The purpose of living, overcoming earthly variables, has been fulfilled.

A little like the Christian concept of heaven, Nirvana is a world without pain. However, the eternal life associated with Christianity is more an eternal existence and non existence in Buddhism. Where Christianity has a soul finding peace in heaven, Buddhism does not give credence to an eternal soul. For Buddhism, there co-exists an enigmatic life v. non-life paradox, quite indescribable in mortal terms. Suffice it to simply be called the highest state of consciousness possible, where the need for desire and the endurance of suffering cease to have place or value. Nirvana is where the earthly self is superceded by the Universal Self. A place and purpose in the Universe is secured.

If you have not achieved Nirvana in one lifetime, you are reincarnated. You attempt to "work off" and transcend the bad karma of past lives. It is a little like returning to old obligations, attempting to rectify and fulfil them.

And so the Buddhist pilgrim journeys with the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Paths, attempting to know them, understand and practice them. And then there is Nirvana Day on February 15, where the Buddhist has the opportunity to celebrate the Buddha at a festive occasion in monasteries or temples. Some may use the day to remember those who have passed away or to hear passages from the "Paranibbana Sutta" which describe the last days of the Buddha.

Nirvana is an elusive, perfect state of higher consciousness. Yet, for the Buddhist, it is a desirable state releasing the chains of "conditioned" earthly worlds.

Sources
www.urbandharma. org
www.science.howstuffworks.c om
www.ekoji.org

Learn more about this author, Gemma Wiseman.
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