2 of 15

Write now Article Tools

"Where there is nothing; where naught is grasped Paranirvana do I call it the utter extinction of ageing and dying."-Shakyamuni Buddha

Nirvana is simply the experience of freedom from the cycles of Samsara or the eternal cycles of cause and effect, death and re-birth. There are two stages to Nirvana; firstly to achieve and experience this freedom or enlightenment is Nirvana, you are free but still trapped in physical form. The second is Paranirvana, which you enter upon death and after the stages of Bardo, are then permanently completely free from Samsara and do not have to be born again into Samsara ever again, this is the total freedom of enlightenment.

To understand Nirvana properly, we need to know what Nirvana is actually freedom from. Samsara or the Wheel of Samsara is the Buddhist explanation of an eternal cycle of existence and one's position in this cycle is wholly dependant on your Karma.

It is your Karmic state that governs your position in Samsara, or perhaps think of it like a bank balance, the more you have in the bank the higher you will be in the realms of Samsara. But like all bank balances if not replenished the money runs out, and when you die will then be reborn into a lower realm according to the state of your Karma or bank balance.

There are six realms of Samsara staring at the Naraka or hell realms of which there are sixteen levels divided between Hot and Cold realms. An example of a Hot Hell realm is Rauvura or screaming realm, where the inhabitants run around on an endless red hot ground screaming in agony until they die. It is in the Hell realms primarily that you may, or rather actually have no choice in, work off negative Karma to be re-born into a higher realm.

Next is the Hungry Ghost realm so called because it is inhabited by ghosts that can not eat or drink but can see other beings do so, and remain perpetually hungry and thirsty until their deaths.

The third realm is the Animal realm, home to the animal kingdom, these are beings that are aware of their surroundings but cannot form intelligent thoughts or initiate higher states of awareness. They exist in a wholly instinctual state until their deaths.

We are in the Human realm at number four. It is a Buddhist belief that your chance of being born human is that of a sea turtle popping its head through a wooden yoke floating in the middle of a large ocean. They believe to be born human is a unique opportunity because in the Human realm we can experience tastes of all the other realms

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Buddhism: Introduction to the Nirvana?
We want to hear your view. Write now!