Nirvana (nehan
涅槃)
is the exercise of control over the flames of desire - the
flames of the passions which are always on fire. Our
unhappiness, our self-imposed distress and suffering, are
the passions that we fall prey to and which bring
suffering. These passions prevent us from achieving
nirvana.
The moment we are free from the grip of our passions, i.e.,
we learn to find nirvana, our way to happiness is open to
us.
These passions fall into three groups called
sandoku
(三毒):
1. Craving and attachment - such as lust, infatuation and
greed (donnyoku
貪欲)
2. Antipathy - hatred, anger, vexation or repugnance
(shinni
嗔恚)
3. Ignorance - delusion, dullness and stupidity
(guchi
愚痴)
The first and second relate to our emotions and attitudes
toward others. The third relates to all ideas that are
removed from the truth.
Nirvana means to have enough control over our passions so
as to enable us to walk on the path of righteousness.
Nirvana means release from our passions.
Nirvana is neither a place nor a metaphysical state of
being, it is not an imagined supernatural “heaven” or “pure
land.” Nor does nirvana mean “death.” Nirvana
is not the extinguishing of life, but the extinguishing of
the flames of craving that assail a person’s character and
thus bring suffering and misery to our lives here and now.
The dissolving of volitional formations
(gyõ
行)
or fabrications of the mind. Nirvana is the end of
suffering - a lasting happiness - it is not something that
can be obtained through acquisition, rather it is realised
through relinquishment and the extinction of the fires of
greed, stupidity, and anger (sandoku
三毒).
“Rooted in nirvana, the righteous life is lived. Nirvana is
its goal.”
- The Buddha
“Nirvana is the Middle Way.”
-
Śariputra
The Buddha delivered a sermon called the fire sermon in
which he said,
“All things, oh monks, are on fire. What, oh monks, is on
fire?
The eye, oh monks, is on fire; forms are on fire; eye
consciousness is on fire; and whatever sensation, pleasant,
unpleasant, or indifferent, originates in dependence on
impression received by the type, that also is on fire.
And with what are these on fire?
With the fire of passion say I, with the fire of hatred,
with the fire of infatuation; with birth, old age, death,
sorrow, lamentation, misery, grief and despair are they on
fire.
The ear is on fire; sounds are on fire; the nose is on
fire; odours are on fire; the tongue is on fire; tastes are
on fire; the body is on fire; ideas are on fire; and
whatever sensation, pleasant, unpleasant, or indifferent,
originates in dependence on impression received by the
mind, that also is on fire.
And with what are these on fire?
With the fire of passion, say I; with the fire of hatred;
with the fire of infatuation; with birth; old age, death,
sorrow, lamentation, misery, grief, and despair are they on
fire.
Perceiving this, oh monks, the learned and noble conceives
an aversion. And in conceiving this aversion, he becomes
divested of passion, and by the absence of passion he
becomes free, and when he is free he becomes aware that he
is free.
This is nirvana.
Excited by greed, furious with anger, blinded by delusion,
with mind overwhelmed, with mind enslaved, men reflect upon
their own misfortune, men reflect upon the misfortune of
others, men experience mental suffering and anguish.
If one is able to do away with greed, anger and delusion,
men reflect neither upon their own misfortune nor on mental
suffering and anguish.
Thus, oh monks, is nirvana visible in this very life,
accessible to the noble and wise disciple.”
What makes man unhappy is his giving in to his passions.
The Buddha explained that these passions are on fire, and
nirvana means to extinguish them. The moment we are free
from the sway of our passions we achieve nirvana, and
happiness is open to us.
Nirvana is the realising of control over our
passions.
