Buddhists - what exactly is the difference between Bodhi and Nirvana?

Question

Yes, but the tree is so named, because it is under that tree that the Buddha achieved Bodhi (enlightenment).

Ok (in response to question no.2) but am I right in thinking that you can achieve Bodhi in life (as Buddha is said to have done) but Nirvana can only be achieved after death?

Or is that a misconception?

Answer 1

Bodhi (Sanskrit and Pali: “awakening” or “enlightenment”) In Buddhism, the final enlightenment that ends the cycle of death and rebirth and leads to nirvana.

This awakening transformed Siddhartha Gautama into the historical Buddha. Bodhi is achieved by ridding oneself of false beliefs and the hindrance of passions through the discipline of the Eightfold Path. Though not supported in canonical texts, commentaries give a threefold classification of bodhi: that of a perfectly enlightened one, or a Buddha; that of an independently enlightened one; and that of an arhat

Nirvana is "the highest happiness". It is necessary to note that "the highest happiness" spoken of by Buddha is not the transitory, sense-based happiness of everyday life, but rather an enduring, transcendental happiness integral to the calmness attained through enlightenment.

Nirvana is, further, the abiding of a fully enlightened being (see terms Arhat and Buddha) in pure unobstructed awareness of reality as-it-is.

It is accompanied by and synonymous with a state of spiritual awakening (Enlightenment).

But its synomynous only because when you get Bodhi you are supposed to get Nirvana. "You have taken the last step", is synonymous to " reaching your target". Both are synonymous but the step itself is not the target , though this step leading to target and can be called as the tareget.

As for Nirvana after death only, thats not true either.

The Buddha describes the abiding in nirvana as a state of 'deathlessness' (Pali: amata or amaravati) and the "unconditioned" and as the highest spiritual attainment, the natural result that accrues to one who lives a life of virtuous conduct in accordance with Dharma.

If you stay here long enough you get the Bodhi that most people here are not religious scholar but many are 12 year old kids . Thats not Nirvana.

Bodhi is not exactly Nirvana. Bodhi is the knowledge. When you realise that bodhi is not same thing as Nirvana , its a kind of Bodhi you got ;).

Sorry but could not resist. But we do use this word, in not only religious buddhist sence but in daily language.

Answer 2

My understanding is that they are basically synonyms. When one achieves Bodhi, one is also in a state of Nirvana.

Bodhi is an awakening or an awakeness.

Nirvana is an extinguishing of desire, a state of being, transcendental happiness.

The term "bodhisattva" refers to one who has postponed his entrance into Parinirvana in order to help others reach nirvana. When those Bodhisattvas become Buddhas, they might pass into Parinirvana.

Answer 3

bodhi is knowledge. bodhi is also a tree. Buddha was called bodhi satwa because he got his enlightenment under bodhi tree .another meaning of bodhi satwa is the enlightened one. nirvana means renouncing the earthly matters.gouthma attained nirvana to become buddha or bodhisatwa.

Answer 4

here are many synonyms for Nirvana, as shown by the following passage:

World Honored One, the ground of fruition is bodhi, nirvana, true suchness, the Buddha-nature, the amala-consciousness, the empty treasury of the Thus Come One, the great, perfect mirror-wisdom. But although it is called by these seven names, it is pure and perfect, its substance is durable, like royal vajra, everlasting and indestructible.

Answer 5

Isn't Bodhi a tree? I mean like an actual tree, that you plant in the ground and all that jazz.

Edit: Ahh, hmm.

Answer 6

Nirvana was a Seattle band