Nibbana

Enlightenment

Enlightenment shows you the real truth of the world and what our purpose is here on earth. Enlightenment expands our initial thoughts and views.

It is spoken of as a pure, clear and radiant awareness. Enlightenment is more a way of seeing things in a true light. The knowledge gained is more a spiritual vision that sees all things directly, clearly, vividly and truly.

Enlightenment is also seen as a state of love and compassion.

Enlightenment also consists of a state of mental and spiritual energy. As the Buddha’s body aged his mind remained young and energetic.

The Fable of the Turtle and the Fish

The Buddhist Fable where the turtle tries to explain to the fish what dry land is like is used to show how Nibbana must be experienced to be fully understood. The fish asks if dry land is like anything he has experienced and when the turtle tells him it is not he begins to doubt whether dry land exists.

The questions of King Milinda

Nagasena explains to the King that Nibbana can only be fully understood by experiencing that state yourself. Nagasena compares Nibbana to the wind, it cannot be seen or touched but it can be experienced and you see the effects that it has on those who experience it. Nibbana can only be experienced through your own personal effort; once that person has purified his or her mind and has become an enlightened person.

Nibbana

The state where greed, hatred and ignorance are ended through enlightenment.

Arhats

Those who are enlightened.

Nibbana to Theravada Buddhists

• way of the elders - involving strict adherence to one path

• only achieved by following the noble eightfold path

• arhat achieves enlightenment then goes beyond to Nibbana

• may take many lifetimes to achieve

Nibbana to Mahayana Buddhists

• greater vehicle - suggesting there are seveal different routes to Nibbana

• transfer of merit to aid others in achieving Nibbana

• path of the Boddhisattva

• enlightenment achievable in this lifetime

Theravada tradition

The path to enlightenment is that of the Arhat. By following the middle path an individual can learn how to get rid of the craving that leads to dissatisfaction and become enlightened.

The path to Nibbana takes many lifetimes as the kamma that increases attachment to Samsara is accumulated gradually, similarly getting rid of attachment happens gradually.

Enlightenment is a distant goal for lay people due to the distractions of day-to-day life. Their purpose and practice must be to gain as much good kamma as possible in order to secure a better rebirth.

Monks and nuns are more likely to achieve Nibbana as they are less affected by the cravings of the world.

Mahayana tradition

The Mahayana tradition offers a more accessible path to enlightenment for lay people. The emphasis is on compassion and wisdom rather than monastic self discipline and study.

The goal of a Mahayana Buddhist is to become a Boddhisattva: someone who has achieved enlightenment but has re-entered the cycle of samsara to help others.

The Wisdom of the Bodhisattva

This wisdom involves seeing things for what they really are, or realising the ultimate truth. For a Mahayana Buddhist it is to see that everything is connected and that there is no permanent self.

The Compassion of the Bodhisattva

From this wisdom and realisation of the ultimate truth comes the compassion of the Bodhisattva. The wise Bodhisattva becomes fully aware of the suffering of others and vows to help them. The Bodhisattva sets aside personal happiness and takes on the physical and spiritual suffering of others. Good kamma is accepted and turned into merit for the believer, bad kamma is endured.

KU Points

• freedom from the cycle of rebirth and samsara

• extinction or quenching the fires of anger, greed and delusion, of desire and craving

• destruction of the defilements/cankers of greed, hatred and ignorance

• attained during ones lifetime as a transcendent timeless experience as well as in the future or beyond this life

• the highest bliss

• it is the complete cessation of dukkha

• a transformed state of consciousness

• kamma ceased to operate

• it is sometimes described negatively as the unborn, unmade, the unconditioned and the deathless

Analysis/Evaluation (Support)

• Nibbana is understood through the experience

• it can be understood as a goal to be attained

• it is the third noble truth so it must be accurate

• it can be witnessed in the qualities of the arhat

• it can be understood as the opposite of conditioned existence

• in making progress towards Nibbana in the present lifetime glimpses of Nibbana are attained through higher levels and states of meditation

• Buddha proves Nibbana is possible

• The fourth noble truth leads to enlightenment

• there is a way to Mahayana tradition believes everyone can become enlightened

Analysis/Evaluation (Against)

• saying Nibbana has to be experienced to be understood makes it abstract and difficult to identify with

• if it is beyond most human beings understanding then it seems to be an unreachable goal

• it cannot be understood with rational faculties as it is a subjective experience and will not conform to the logical ways of thinking

• Nibbana is too remote and in Theravada tradition

• Restricted to the Arhat state in Theravada Buddhism

• the state of Nibbana might seem very out of reach to most Buddhists as it requires extreme commitment to meditation practice and often long retreats which is beyond the vast majority of people

• as a result of the difficulties and the sacrifice of everyday pleasures it is easy to become despondent and pessimistic.