Buddhist please..what is Nivarna?

Answer 1

Nirvana is an ancient word. In Theravada scriptures, which are the most ancient, nirvana means the same as enlightenment. Sometimes you also find this in the Zen tradition (and Chinese Buddhism in general) because although Chinese Buddhism is Mahayana, its roots are also very ancient. However, in later Mahayana as it developed in India, enlightenment is a more advanced experience than nirvana. It's developed after nirvana - it follows on from nirvana. (So you can see that "nirvana" doesn't refer to an experience that happens only at death! There is life after the experience of nirvana, but now the person is not an "ordinary" person; he or she is re an Arya being, a Bodhisattva on the path to full enlightenment.)

Awakened is the translation of Bodhi. The Buddha - any Buddha - is "an awakened being". Depending on whether you follow Theravada or Mahayana, "awakened" will refer to nirvana or to full enlightenment. In the meditation traditions (like Zen) you also find the words "awakened" and even "enlightened" used for the deep experiences that arise in meditation as you're following the path. So in these traditions you can talk about a series of "enlightenments" or "awakenings" which eventually culminate in full and complete enlightenment.
Often in Mahayana we talk about Bodhi Mind (bodhicitta in Sanskrit) which means an advanced state of mind that is absolutely dedicated to achieving full and complete enlightenment in order to be able to benefit all sentient beings. Some translators translate this as "enlightening mind", meaning a mind that is not yet completely enlightened but is steadily progressing towards that state.

Emptiness means "lack of inherent existence". It's the way everything - ourselves and all phenomena - actually exist. Nothing has a permanent unchanging nature. Everything we experience arises because of causes and conditions, and is thus constantly changing. To "realize emptiness" is to experience this true nature of existence directly. In some texts, this experience is described as nirvana or even enlightenment. But it's not full enlightenment. However it's a prerequisite of full and complete enlightenment. In fact none of the higher realizations can arise until the meditator has a direct realization of emptiness.
Emptiness is a very interesting and subtle subject, well worth studying in depth. You need to study it, to understand intellectually what emptiness really is, before you can achieve a realization of emptiness.

Cessation generally means the complete stopping of mental defilements. This can only happen when you have a true realization of emptiness. However you can experience the partial ceasing of defilements before that, and if you keep practising steadily, your defilements will become weaker and weaker so that when you do realize emptiness, you'll be able to follow the rest of the path quite easily.

I hope this is some help. Naturally I've explained the terms from a Mahayana perspective, and in particular, from the viewpoint of the full flowering of Mahayana in India. Other people might explain some of these terms slightly differently.

Answer 2

Nirvana is attaining enlightenment which means ending cyclic existence by eliminating your own suffering thus ending the cycle. It's not easy to attain and it should never be a reason why a Buddhist takes an action. A Buddhist wants to reach Nirvana so that they are able to help alleviate the suffering of others. If you just want enlightenment for enlightenments sake you will never achieve it as you are attached to it.

Answer 3

Forgive me for the following quote from one of my favourite Buddhist basic learning sites...It is such a difficult thing to describe I must leave it to the more knowledgeable and skillful...I quote..

It is a dimension transcending time and space and thus is difficult to talk about or even to think about. Words and thoughts being only suited to describe the time-space dimension. But because Nirvana is beyond time, there is no movement and so no aging or dying. Thus Nirvana is eternal. Because it is beyond space, there is no causation, no boundary, no concept of self and not-self and thus Nirvana is infinite.

The Lord Buddha also assures us that Nirvana is an experience of profound happiness. He says:

Nirvana is the highest happiness.
Dp 204

Peace from a Buddhist...

Answer 4

I'm a buddhist and Nirvana is a rock band in the 1900's

Answer 5

An alternative rock band from Seattle in the 90's. I'm having a hard time picturing many buddhists jamming to "Come As You Are" or "Rape Me".

But, who knows.

Answer 6

Gaz, has provided you with an excellent answer.
Source is http://web.singnet.com.sg/~cswoon/questions.html

Go to where it says "What or Where is Nirvanna ?

This would have been my answer to you, as well, taken from the site:
"All about Buddhism!"

A very good site of Reference.
The 10 points should go to Gaz.

Thank You for giving me the opportunity to provide you with "an" answer to your most excellent question.

Have a optimistically fantastic weekend.

Answer 7

Nirvana is beyond concepts and difficult to explain in any way where it can't be misinterpreted to those who aren't exposed to Buddhist philosophy. As basically as I can put it, it's the result of studying the Dharma and practicing altruism until you've reigned in your mind to where you're no longing suffering clinging, attachments and aversions, deluded thinking, etc.

www.buddhanet.net for more info

_()_

Answer 8

In Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, the attainment of enlightenment and freeing of the spiritual self from attachment to worldly things, ending the cycle of birth and rebirth

Answer 9

Nirvana is a place where Buddha and his students reside! It is separated from heaven where God rules! The people, who could go to Nirvana, is the one who want to live in a peaceful afterlife to concentrate in blessing the human world! God and the holy spirits regulate the fate of people - Buddha cannot!

Answer 10

Nirvana is liberation from cyclic existence for medium scope practitioners, or hinayanists. For great scope, or great capacity practitioners, mahayanists, {non-abiding} nirvana is freedom from the extremes of samsara (cyclic existence) and nirvana (liberation from cyclic existence for oneself alone.)