Most people have undoubtedly heard of Nirvana, a concept in Buddhism that is intrinsically tied in with the belief system, and one that Buddha himself taught extensively. Nirvana, translated, means to “blow out”, or “blowing out” and it relates to a state of consciousness rather than an afterlife – although there are multiple interpretations – as is widely believed, although there are multiple descriptions of Nirvana depending on the group.
Nirvana is an important aspect of Buddhism, and anyone interested in becoming a Buddhist or are interested in learning more, keep reading.
Blowing Out The Fires
One might assume that “blowing out” might be related to the ego in some way, and that it relates to the process of removing the ego through meditation. What Nirvana really relates to, however is the blowing out of the three fires: greed, delusion, and hatred. These three fires are tied closely with the cycle of rebirth that Buddhist believes occurs for every living human on the planet. By blowing out these three fires, one may be able to transcend the cycle, and enter a new state of consciousness that was previously closed off to them.
Nirvana, then, means entering into a state of true peace, joy, compassion, as well as a refined sense of awareness of the mind, the body, and the world around us. Those that are able to attain this enlightened state will be free of all negatively charged emotions, including doubt, anxiety, worry, fear, aggression, and more. Essentially, it’s a path one must take to extinguish the fires that cause them and others harm in any way.
The Afterlife
What happens, then, to a person that has gained enlightenment and their life comes to an end? Buddha believed that once the fires have been fully extinguished, they are no longer part of the cycle of rebirth, meaning that they are exempt from entering the world again in a new state. Historians and Buddhists alike have long pondered as to what happens a person that has entered Nirvana, and even Buddha wasn’t able to give a definitive answer, saying that such a question could never truly be answered.
To some, it means the endless existence of a soul, one that will continue forever. Many have viewed this in a negative light, seeing it as a loss of some of the qualities that make us human, such as specific desires and wants that are common to all men and women, from owning property, playing at https://canadiangambling.net/real-money/, or collecting specific items. Others, however, see it as a way of transcending all worldly notions, of breaking free and finding a true sense of peace that we all wish we could find but possibly don’t have the means to do so.
How To Attain Nirvana
Those who are able to transcend to a state of Nirvana are known as “awakened ones” and are usually people who devote years to becoming an arhat, a person that has become enlightened but haven’t gained omniscience. Following the Eightfold Path is absolutely essential, and through the cycle of rebirth can we hope to eventually allow our souls into a state of Nirvana.