What is nirvana in Buddhism and what are the stages of achieving it?

Nirvana... The meaning of the word has become synonymous with a relaxed, blissful state. This is a term whose distorted interpretation has entered the vocabulary of people suffering from drug addiction. The idea of it as euphoria is actually not true. The concept of “nirvana” is one of the most complex in Buddhism. Even the famous Buddha Shakyamuni could not give him an exact definition.

Everyone has heard the expression “go to nirvana” at least once. What does it mean? Usually this phrase means some incredibly pleasant state, filled with endless bliss, even, one might say, a peak of pleasure. It is believed that you can fall into nirvana for any reason, for example, from listening to your favorite music, from eating delicious food, from being close to your loved one. In fact, this opinion is wrong. So what is nirvana and what is it for? Let's try to figure it out.

Mentions of nirvana

Of course, Buddha Shakyamuni himself spoke about nirvana (the literal translation of the name is “the sage, the awakened one of the Shakya family”), the founder of Buddhism, the legendary spiritual teacher. He referred to it as the state of cessation of suffering, obscurations and attachments of the mind. The thing is that Shakyamuni never described the state of nirvana as positive. He spoke only about what it is not.

The famous Soviet religious scholar, Evgeniy Alekseevich Torchinov, expressed a certain opinion regarding Buddha and nirvana. The scientist concluded that the sage maintained a noble silence regarding nirvana. Torchinov summarized: “Nirvana is a state that fundamentally goes beyond the boundaries of empirical knowledge and the language that describes it.”

What is nirvana in Buddhism?

Nirvana, or Nibbana, is considered the highest happiness in Buddhism. But in this case it should not be interpreted as the joyful excitement that is familiar to us in earthly existence. By absolute happiness, Buddhists mean the absence of suffering that a person continuously experiences in Samsara. This term denotes the cycle of life limited by karma.

In Buddhism, nirvana is described as something vague, the opposite of Samsara. She, in turn, is considered a world of delusions, passions, attachments and hence the ensuing suffering. If one purifies oneself from the listed factors, then the “enlightened one” can fully experience what nirvana is and become liberated both from the physical body and from ideas, desires and consciousness in general. In Buddhism, this state is not considered an absolute, unity with God, since in this case it would mean the continuation of the passion for life.

What is the difference between nirvana in the Hindu religion

If Buddhism says that after nirvana there is emptiness where there is no soul, then in Hinduism this state is understood somewhat differently.

As in Buddhist ideas, Hindus believe that nirvana entails a break in the series of reincarnations, the cessation of karmic consequences, the end of one’s own ego - this phenomenon is called “moksha”. But for Hindus, nirvana is reunion with Brahman, the supreme Lord.

This is mentioned in the scriptures Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita, where an interesting word “Brahmanirvana” is used. Returning to God, feeling unity with him is the greatest happiness, because, according to Hinduism, a piece of the Almighty lives in each of us.

Peace or non-existence?

Does the above mean that nirvana is a state of complete non-existence? This is not entirely true. Despite the fact that researchers and teachers of Buddhism still argue about the correct interpretation of the concept of “nirvana,” most of them still agree that this is not a state that means the complete disappearance of all living things. In their understanding, this is just peace of mind, freedom from passions, conflicts and tension. Some of the teachers interpret nirvana as follows - it does not have life itself (desires, thoughts, movement), which is implied in Samsara, but at the same time its potential and energy are present. It's almost as if dry wood and matches were available, there would be a potential for kindling a flame, a latent possibility of fire.

How to achieve a state of liberation

The path to Nirvana is a personal process of discovering absolute truth. Thus, to achieve a state of complete liberation, being must renounce all attachment and material desires, since such attachment is believed to only bring suffering.

A being is absolutely free when what once bound him, like negative feelings, is overcome. Then the moment of bliss comes and the cycle of life and death no longer continues because all karmic debts are automatically cleared.

Another type of nirvana in Buddhism

Everything that was mentioned above refers to the nirvana of abiding, or, as it is also called, the great one. Those who manage to achieve this state are in complete peace.

Also in Buddhism there is another version of this concept - nirvana of non-abidence. The practitioners with the help of which it is achieved renounce the state of complete peace in order to help individuals in Samsara and guide other practitioners. Usually such people with consciousness in the awakening stage are called bodhisattvas. What is nirvana for them? This is the ability to generate compassion in one’s own soul to an incredibly large extent and help everyone who turns to them for any help.

Stages of achievement

How can one achieve nirvana? No one has yet been able to answer this question unequivocally.

One opinion says that to know the nature of enlightenment it is enough to become an arhat, i.e. find personal awakening.

Others believe that bodhisattvas - beings who themselves have achieved awakening, but who abandoned nirvana in the name of love and help to everything in the world - can help on a difficult path.

Still others are confident that even lay people can achieve complete liberation if they follow all the rules prescribed by tradition, engage in meditative practices, read mantras, lead a correct lifestyle, and are pure in thoughts and intentions.

There are several stages to achieving nirvana:

Sotapanna - loss of excessive attacks of excitement, anger, weakening of dependence on material wealth, power motives, public opinion, cessation of worries about the transitory.
Refusal of primitive level aspirations, likes and dislikes, sexual interest.
Lack of fear of unpleasant sensations, humiliation, reproach, pain. Pleasure and anger are replaced by imperturbable calm.

If we talk about ways to achieve nirvana, then one of three paths leads to it:

Samma-Sambuddha - following the path of the preacher, teacher: the generation within oneself of paramitas - the perfect qualities of a bodhisattva;
Pratyeka Buddha - the wordless Buddha: the path to enlightenment without the ability to teach others the dharma;
Arhata-Buddha - following the instructions of the bodhisattva, which carries the dharma.

The main thing that needs to be done at the initial stage along the path of Buddha is to give up material desires. But here’s a paradox: the desire for nirvana is in itself one of the desires that the Buddha’s teaching recommends that we give up.

This means that the path to liberation will be thorny and require significant effort. After all, on the one hand, motivation is necessary to achieve any goal, but on the other hand, it turns out that nirvana in itself should not be a goal.

Bodhisattvas: display in culture

Bodhisattvas are mentioned in prayers and depicted in various types of thankas (traditional Tibetan textile designs). The most famous of all in existence is the compassionate and seer Avalokiteshvara. According to legend, the moment this bodhisattva was able to achieve enlightenment, he saw how much suffering those who remained in Samsara were experiencing. Avalokiteshvara was so amazed by such a sight that his head was torn into eleven pieces from pain. But other enlightened ones were able to help him. They collected and restored the head to its original condition. From that time on, Avalokiteshvara began to teach others how to achieve nirvana. In this way he helped them get rid of painful suffering.

Two elements of nibbana

The attainment of Nibbana occurs in two stages. These two stages are called the two elements of nibbana. The first is nibbana with remainder. The other is nibbana without reserve. The nibbana element with remainder is the state of nibbana achieved by the arahant (liberated) in this life. This is the destruction of greed, hatred, ignorance and all other impurities. The remainder that remains in the arahant is the five aggregates that constitute his individuality in the present existence, the psychophysiological organism is the result of past existences. After attaining nibbana, his mind and body continue to exist until the end of his existence. The second stage of attaining nibbana is called the element of nibbana without remainder. This nibbana is achieved by the arahant after leaving the body - what is called death.

The death of an arahant is the final and complete exit from conditioned existence. It does not lead to a new birth. This is his personal experience, and the arahant sees only the cessation of the process, and not the death of his ego. This experience is not perceived by him in terms of “I”, “mine”. At this stage, the remaining five aggregates come to an end.

Having achieved liberation during his lifetime, the arahant continues to perform the necessary functions of life. He sleeps, wakes up in the morning, eats, talks, performs various duties, etc. Although he lives everyday life, he has completely eradicated the defilements of greed, hatred, ignorance. In his psychophysiological organism there is no longer thirst, which supports the process of becoming leading to future existences. From a pragmatic point of view of human existence, the state of nibbana is a state of absolute happiness, freedom from sorrows, worries and fears. The arahant feels physical pain, but it does not disturb his mind. She doesn't cause him any anxiety or sadness. The Arahant is also in a state of complete fearlessness. All fear is generated by the ego concept. When we are afraid, we are afraid of something that threatens the safety of our ego, or objects that we believe belong to us. But for the arahant who has completely eradicated the ego concept, there is liberation from all fears. Having given up all forms of attachment, the arahant is free from emotional agitation, worry and anxiety. He is in absolute equanimity, with a completely balanced mind. It cannot be shaken by the eight worldly winds: gain and loss; glory and shame; praise and condemnation; pleasure and pain. The state of balance of an arahant is not a state of indifference. The mind of an arahant is filled with inexpressible friendliness and boundless compassion. This is the state of nibbana in terms of feelings and emotions. Further, having completely eradicated ignorance, the arahant no longer accumulates kamma. His intentional actions do not have the property of producing future existences. He still performs acts of will, but these are just actions. They do not leave a mark on the mind, just as a flying bird does not leave its marks on the sky. The arahant still reaps the results of the kammas he performed before enlightenment, but they no longer bother his mind. He has perfect knowledge and understanding. He is fully awakened and sees things as they really are. He is no longer misled by distortions, projections, perversions born of ignorance.

Achieving an Enlightened State

Can every living being achieve nirvana? It is difficult to answer this question. If this were achievable, then suffering would disappear as a concept altogether. The Buddha said that he was not able to free everyone completely from suffering as easily as removing a thorn from a leg. And it is not in his power to wash away bad karma from everyone as simply as dirt is washed away with water. He only offered to free us from suffering, showing us the right path. Presumably, such a path for everyone is very long and can last, undergoing hundreds and even thousands of rebirths until a person clears his karma and completely frees his mind from the obscurations that torment him. However, according to Buddhist teachers, every living being has Buddha nature, and therefore the possibility of achieving enlightenment.

Exit from samsara

The path (marga) of getting rid of suffering will help stop the cyclical nature of rebirths. Otherwise it is called the Eightfold Path, since it includes eight stages of development:

Correct view. Find motivation for your actions.
Right intention. You should constantly cultivate metta in your soul - kindness towards all living beings.
Correct speech. Lies, abuse, idle talk, rumors, stupidity and other negative formations must be excluded.
Correct behavior. Taboo activities: murder, theft, drunkenness, debauchery and lying.
The right way of life. Do not cause suffering to other living beings and adhere to noble work.
The right effort. Concentrate your energy on achieving enlightenment.
Right mindfulness. Awareness of all your actions.
Correct concentration. Practice deep meditation and concentration of thoughts.

Organization of cremation

What nirvana is not and the opinion of esotericists

Most esotericists know what nirvana is and somehow understand the meaning of this concept. This is generally accepted as the goal of most Buddhists. But some of the young esotericists do not attribute nirvana to Buddhism and use this term to call some states from present life. Thus, they mislead many people. Therefore, it is worth noting what nirvana is and what it really is not.

This is the place of existence for some representatives of humanity after death. This opinion is shared by a small number of people who have achieved liberation, that is, a state that is not entirely correctly called enlightenment, and who have decided to independently leave Samsara.
Nirvana - what does this concept mean? It is an exclusively Buddhist term. Outside of this culture, nirvana has no meaning. This is not a trance, not a state of happiness or bliss. By its very essence, nirvana cannot be accessible to living people.

Types of Nirvana

There are different types of nirvana. In the Buddha's teachings it is:

an unknown state of constant peace and absolute satisfaction;
destruction of the chain of rebirths, the end of rebirths, complete, unbreakable peace;
it defies any definition;
There is still debate among scientists and Buddhists about the correct understanding of nirvana.

There are different types of nirvana according to different teachings

But from different sources we distinguish the division into 3 types of nirvana:

mental _ Is a short condition that has happened to any person. Everyone has sometimes caught a moment of incredible peace, as well as enlightenment. This is called the mental manifestation of nirvana;
vital _ This nirvana can be achieved by a person if his soul is still in the body. This gives a chance to break the chain of rebirths and leads a person to a new species;
eternal _ Those who were able to achieve the previous type of nirvana after the death of the body, i.e. after death, comprehends it.

In Theravada there are 2 types of nirvana:

" with the remainder ". A saint in Buddhism resides in this state before leaving the chain of reincarnation. The body is called the remnant, it bears the name of the “last”;
" without a trace ." In this case, the complete set of dharmas “calms down” for the Buddhist saint, and he himself ceases to exist forever.

Questionable opinions about nirvana

Many skeptics argue that everything we hear and know about nirvana, in addition to the above, is fantasy and speculation. Buddhism claims that a person’s entire life and his state after death, all rebirths are the Great Wheel of Samsara. Even bodhisattvas are in it. That is, if a person is alive, then he is in Samsara - there are no options. Those who leave do not return - this postulate is a fundamental concept in Buddhism. For this reason, any living person has, in principle, no reliable information about nirvana and cannot know anything about it. Since this concept is absolutely ephemeral, there is not a single proof of its existence. Thus, we can conclude that our knowledge of nirvana cannot be verified.

Nirvana

Nirvana - this word is known even to those who are little familiar with Buddhism. This word entered the Russian language with the meaning “bliss”, “pleasure”. However, what is nirvana in the original understanding of this word? Do we really understand it as the followers of dharmic religions interpret it, and what do concepts such as “bliss” and “pleasure” have in common with the original understanding of such a concept as Nirvana?

Nirvana – the most popular meaning is “bliss”, “pleasure”;
Nirvana - absence of restless mind;
Nirvana in Buddhism is a state of freedom from the shackles of the material world;
Nirvana – achievement of Liberation;
The Noble Eightfold Path leads to Nirvana;
Nirvana in Hinduism is union with God;

The relevance of the desire for Nirvana for modern man

So, let's try to consider in detail what Nirvana is, how to achieve it and how necessary it is. Contrary to the widespread use of the concept “Nirvana” in the meaning of “bliss, pleasure,” translated from Sanskrit this word means “fading,” “cessation,” “non-excitement.” Sounds kind of sad, doesn’t it? Why does the word Nirvana, which we are accustomed to perceive as something pleasant and positive, have such very ambiguous translations? If “non-excitement” and “cessation” can somehow be interpreted positively, then with the word “fading” we picture landscapes of late rainy autumn, cemetery silence and, in general, complete melancholy. However, not everything is so simple.

Nirvana is a state of no-restless mind

The concept of “nirvana” came to us from dharmic religions, mainly from Buddhism and Hinduism. And this concept closely coexists with such a system of self-development as yoga. Actually, nirvana is the ultimate goal of yoga. And here you can turn to such an ancient philosophical treatise on yoga as the “Yoga Sutras of Patanjali”, where this sage already in the second sutra describes what yoga is - “Yogas-citta-vritti-niroddhah”, which translates as “yoga - it is the elimination/control of the restlessness/disturbances of the mind.” About the same can be said about such a concept as “nirvana” - this is the absence of disturbance of the mind. And here it is worth returning to the literal translations of the word “nirvana” - “non-excitement, cessation, extinction.” In this case, what is not agitated, stops and fades away? We are talking about these very “vrittis” that Patanjali wrote about, that is, about the restlessness of the mind. And it is precisely as vritti fades and ceases that the state of Nirvana occurs.

That is, the generally accepted understanding that nirvana is bliss and pleasure is not without truth. But this pleasure is not in a worldly sense, but in a spiritual sense. And in this case, it would be more correct to use the term “nirvana” in the sense of “peace.” Buddha himself said about the same thing: “There is no happiness equal to peace.” From the point of view of Buddhism, and indeed from the point of view of yoga, any desire, attachment, some kind of emotion, and so on is nothing more than a restlessness of the mind. And when all these phenomena are eliminated or, as correctly noted, “fade away,” then deep peace sets in, which is experienced as the highest bliss and is called the state of Nirvana.

Nirvana in Buddhism

From the Buddhist point of view, our mind is poisoned by three “poisons” - ignorance, anger and attachment. And the state of Nirvana occurs when these three poisons cease to affect us. Because when we are not subject to ignorance, anger or attachment, all suffering ceases, because these three main causes that lead to suffering are eliminated.

The Buddha taught the concept of Nirvana during his first sermon on the “Four Noble Truths.” Their essence briefly sounds like this: “There is suffering, there is a cause of suffering - desires, there is an opportunity to stop suffering, and this opportunity is the Noble Eightfold Path.”

The Noble Eightfold Path is a kind of recipe on how to achieve the state of Nirvana, one might say, a step-by-step instruction. It contains moral precepts that are quite practical and were invented for a reason, but because they make it easier to move along this path. This instruction also contains specific practical instructions on what needs to be done to come to Nirvana - we are talking about the right mindset, meditation, and so on.

There is also a division as “nirvana with remainder” and “nirvana without remainder.” Nirvana with remainder is a state that is achieved by practitioners in the physical body. That is, he is already free from the three poisons of the mind, he has no attachments, and so on. But since he is still in the physical body, he has certain limitations and needs. Obviously, this is what is meant by the term “remainder”. As for nirvana without a trace, it is achieved after leaving the physical body, and this is considered the final Liberation - exit from the cycle of rebirth - Samsara.

Thus, Nirvana in Buddhism is not some abstract concept, it is a very real goal for practicing Buddhists.

However, in his sermon, which was delivered on Mount Gridhrakuta more than forty years after the first, the Buddha said that the idea of Nirvana was a ploy to attract people to follow the path. He gave the following example: a certain guide leads people through a dangerous area. And now they had been on the road for more than one day, their strength was running out, some of them began to grumble, and, generally speaking, the travelers were exhausted. And to cheer up his companions, the guide, using the power of his mystical abilities, creates a “ghost city” and says: “We have reached the goal.” When people rested in the ghostly city, the guide says: “This is an illusion, I created it for you so that you could rest, but our goal is close. Let's go!

Buddha did exactly the same thing - he gave his disciples a beautiful fairy tale about Nirvana, because if he told him that the goal was much further and much more difficult to achieve, most of his disciples would have looked very sad when they heard such words. But Buddha acted wisely - he gave them a goal that was relatively close, without saying that this goal was intermediate. And only after forty years of his sermons, when many of his disciples had already established themselves on the path, Buddha told them the true, final goal of the path. What purpose the Buddha indicated to his disciples on Mount Gridhrakuta can be read in more detail in the “Lotus Flower Sutra of the Wonderful Dharma,” which is the quintessence of the entire teaching of the Buddha.

Nirvana - state of mind

Thus, if Nirvana is bliss, it is not bliss in the worldly sense of the word. Nirvana is a state of soul in which all restlessness and desire of the senses for material objects ceases. As mentioned above, from the point of view of Buddhism, Nirvana is only an intermediate state, but this is also a very high level of development. One who has reached the state of Nirvana loses the thirst for sensual pleasures, and according to one version, such a person has exhausted all his accumulated karma, or is completely outside its influence.

Since Buddhism does not have the concept of God (to be more precise, the Buddha kept the so-called “noble silence” in response to this question), then when considering the concept of Nirvana, there is no any role of God in achieving this state and staying in it. But this cannot be said about Hinduism, where the understanding of the state of Nirvana is somewhat different, although the meaning remains the same.

From the point of view of Hinduism, the state of Nirvana is union with God and dissolution in him. That is, in essence, we are also talking about gaining Liberation from the cycle of rebirths, it’s just a slightly different interpretation. The soul, freed from its karma and the shackles of the material world, ascends to God and reaches the state of eternal non-return. This is called Nirvana in Hinduism.

Nirvana - as a state of modern man

So, we have examined the views of dharmic religions on the concept of Nirvana. However, the main question remains unanswered - what does this knowledge give us, and how relevant is the idea of achieving Nirvana for a modern socially active person?

If we consider some deep philosophical discussions on the topic of reincarnation, the eternity of the soul, Liberation, and so on, this is probably unlikely to be relevant for most people. But if we talk about what in Buddhism is called “nirvana with a remainder,” that is, the state of calm that a person experiences while in the physical body and continuing to carry out his daily activities, then this will most likely be relevant for many.

One way or another, all living beings strive to avoid suffering. In The Way of the Bodhisattva, Shantideva quotes the words of the Buddha: “All fears, as well as all boundless suffering, originate in the mind.” Most of us are under the illusion that some external circumstances are causing us to suffer. But this is nothing more than an illusion. It is only our own mind that always makes us suffer, which constantly divides phenomena into pleasant and unpleasant. We become attached to pleasant things, and to unpleasant ones we experience disgust, anger or hatred. And this creates suffering.

Thus, achieving the state of “nirvana without remainder,” which is a state of deep peace and liberation from attachments, is possible for almost every person.

“Nirvana is renunciation of everything,” wrote the monk Shantideva. We are not talking about wrapping ourselves in a sheet and going to live in a cave. Renunciation in this case means non-attachment to the fruits of one's actions.

Krishna also spoke about this in Bhagavad-gita: “Don’t strive for fruits - you don’t need their pleasure, but you also don’t need to be inactive. Misfortune and happiness - earthly anxieties - forget! Stay in balance – in yoga.” This is a short and clear description of what Nirvana is - without giving up your activities, without becoming attached to its fruits and remaining in a state of calm, realizing that everything that happens is just the consequences of our karma. And everything that happens - grief or happiness - everything leads us to development. Because from the point of view of accumulation of experience, there is no difference between grief and happiness. Understanding this leads a person to everyday Nirvana.

What is the truth about nirvana?

Nirvana is an abstract, speculative antithesis to Samsara, which is known and can even be explored. These two concepts are still not considered antonyms. If those who live constantly in Samsara suffer from time to time, then in Nirvana no one ever does. This may be true, but it has not been proven, it is just an assumption.

It is believed that the Buddha said that nirvana is a world without suffering, a state of complete harmony, and the like. Or maybe such a conclusion was never heard? In the collections of his sayings (sutras) there are the words “I heard that.” There is only one goal here - not to make these aphorisms an immutable truth that is not disputed (by dogma). The person is given the opportunity to doubt the accuracy of the statements, because the narrator could have misunderstood or forgotten something from what he heard.

Nibbana is the existing reality

Regarding the nature of Nibbana, the question is often asked: “Is Nibbana only the destruction of defilement and liberation from samsara, or is it also a kind of reality that exists in itself?” Nibbana is not only the destruction of defilement and the end of samsara, but also a reality beyond the world of ordinary experience, all spheres of phenomenal existence. Buddha speaks of nibbana as dhamma. For example, he says - of all the dhammas, conditioned and unconditioned, the most excellent, the highest dhamma is nibbana. Dhamma denotes existing reality as opposed to concepts. Dhammas are of two types: conditioned and unconditioned. Conditioned Dhamma is a reality that has arisen due to cause and effect; something that appears due to the action of various conditions. The conditioned dhammas are the five aggregates—material form, sensation, perception, mental constructs and consciousness. Conditioned dhammas are not static. They go through a continuous process of becoming, appearing, changing and disappearing due to their conditioning. However, unconditioned dhamma is not produced by causes and conditions. Its properties are exactly the opposite of those of the conditioned dhammas: it is not subject to arising, change and cessation. However, it is a reality and the Buddha calls nibbana the unconditioned dhamma.

Buddha calls nibbana ayatana. This word means world or sphere. This is a realm where nothing at all corresponds to our ordinary experience, and therefore it can only be described by the method of negation - the negation of all limited and concrete qualities of conditioned phenomena.

Buddha also calls nibbana by the term dhatu, element, immortal element. He compares the element of nibbana to the ocean, pointing out that just as the great ocean remains unchanged, neither increasing nor decreasing, no matter how much water flows into it from the rivers, so nibbana remains unchanged no matter how many people - many or few - reach it.

He also speaks of nibbana as something that can be felt bodily, an experience so clear and intense that it can be described as the contact of the body with immortality.

Buddha also calls nibbana a state (pada), like amatapada - immortality or achchutapada, incorruptibility.

Another word that Buddha uses to describe nibbana is saccha, truth, existing reality. This describes nibbana as a truth, a reality that the noble ones have known through their own experience.

Therefore, all these terms, considered as a whole, clearly indicate that nibbana is a reality and not simply the destruction of defilement or cessation of existence. Nibbana is unconditioned, unborn and eternal.

Finding answers

This approach of the Buddha to the sutras could presumably persuade Buddhists to independently search for an answer to the question: “Nirvana - what is it?”, to a rational, skeptical perception of ideas in Buddhism. Subsequently, they can be checked repeatedly. But this approach is unacceptable for nirvana - a person is not able to penetrate beyond the limits of possible understanding and discern what is happening there. You have to either fantasize or completely complete this useless activity.

If you look at it, for a Buddhist nirvana is a kind of filter, an obstacle. Those who want to get into it cannot do this, since the fact of striving for it is the essence of the manifestation of restless desires and mind. In this case, the person is in Samsara, but not in nirvana. Entrance to it is closed to him. In the same way, the desire to escape from Samsara is a sign of confusion and closes the gate to Nirvana.

Supreme Nirvana

The highest nirvana - the state of the Buddha's soul, or parinirvana, has such synonyms as amata, amarana, nitya, achala, that is, eternal, immortal, immovable, unchanging. A saint can pause the transition to nirvana in order to facilitate the approach of others to it, while remaining in a state of anticipation.

Thanks to spiritual schools in Buddhism, many terms for higher states are known, synonymous with nirvana with some dominant aspect: moksha, the state of the absolute, one’s own essence, absolute reality and many others.

Is it possible to come into contact with the inhabitants of Nirvana?

Alternatively, you could (theoretically) use the services of a medium and try to communicate with someone in nirvana. But its inhabitants, in fact, should not even have the desire, much less any reason, to answer questions, even if they are asked by a bodhisattva. Their desires and minds should have been at peace for a long time. Even if it were possible to get to nirvana, it would be a problematic task for those in it. There is a law of resonance - in order to reach them, you need to completely calm your desires and mind. Accordingly, the impulse to ask a question is suppressed. In general, this is impossible.

And yet, most Buddhists strive to know how to achieve nirvana. This is the purpose of their practices. It is clear that nirvana is incomparable and has no similarities with the paradise inherent in the Christian religion, or any other type of rewarding existence after death. These are not components of Samsara.

How to get to nirvana

Adherents of Buddhism from different centuries have different opinions regarding how to realize Nirvana. Some Buddhists believe that nirvana is unattainable for people in samsara. Others say that every person must experience the state of nirvana during his lifetime, since otherwise he will have to live another life. Proponents of this theory give advice on how to enter nirvana. These tips will help you learn to control and manage your consciousness. This will be a good platform for achieving the state of nirvana through meditation:

Breath control
. First you need to feel how the air passes through your entire body. Then fix your attention on the exhalation. In this state, the body relaxes and exhaust air leaves.
Complete immersion in activity
. To master the state of nirvana, it is necessary to learn to concentrate on the activity in which a person is engaged. For example, if he reads, then all thoughts should be only about what he read.
Following time and events
. Don't dwell on what has already passed. We must follow the events that are happening, think about them and live in them.

Pose for entering nirvana

In the question of how to achieve nirvana, posture is important. For beginners, it is best to start with the lotus pose because it allows you to fix the human body in a comfortable state. Although nirvana is available in any position, it is necessary to choose those in which a person would not be able to fall asleep if relaxed. The lotus position consists of the following components:

Nirvana - goal or inevitability?

From the entire Buddhist theory about nirvana, we can conclude that after a person leaves Samsara, he simply has nowhere to go. Therefore, after liberation from the Great Wheel, there is only one road - to nirvana. Therefore, there is no point in wanting to get into it as such. After all, sooner or later everyone must find themselves in nirvana. And this despite the fact that some will need quite a long time to be able to leave Samsara.

It also makes no sense to want to understand what nirvana is. After all, you will be able to feel everything when you get into it. And the desire to learn as much as possible about it is a manifestation of confusion and prevents the coming of enlightenment.

How to fall into nirvana?

The problem of how to get to nirvana, to enter its life form, worries all the followers of the Buddha. After all, this is the purpose of their life. You cannot achieve freedom afterward if you have not achieved nirvana during this life. Otherwise, you will have to live another life, with new vicissitudes and passions.

Initially, it is worth realizing the very understanding of freedom, which is comprehended in the state of nirvana. This is liberation from any addiction. Worldly attachments add vulnerability to us; they are doomed to suffering. We certainly lose what is dear to us, and fear always comes before the moment of loss.

To achieve nirvana, you will need to learn to live in the present moment and disconnect from the thoughts and attachments of the outside world.

The slow extinction of worldly desires can be achieved using many practices from the teachings of the Buddha and others. Those who have achieved nirvana claim that this can be done through a variety of methods. Hypnosis, meditation, prayer - everyone has their own path. None of them will guarantee enlightenment; only a person will be able to break the constant circle of rebirths. Many people don't like the idea of being "insensitive." What does “I went to nirvana” mean? This is, first of all, the willingness to free yourself from everything worldly. For this reason, you will have to come to such a decision calmly and consciously in order to cut the chain of endless reincarnation with a firm hand. So, let's consider the technique of entering nirvana:

Stay in the lotus position and breathe. Breathing is one of the few constants in life; it is always with us. Feel the air flow through you. It is necessary to breathe through your nose, as inhaling and exhaling through your mouth will only increase your heart rate and increase anxiety. Breathing through your nose will bring relaxation. Focus your attention on your exhalations. During the process of exhalation, nothing happens, everything unnecessary disappears, you relax. For this reason, when breathing, concentrate on exhaling.
Ask yourself what you are doing now. You may be trying to read at the moment, but where are your thoughts in reality? What are they connected to? What is your body doing? If at this moment you wish to read, then do so. We have too many worries in the world. It is not strange that life is presently incomprehensible because of them.
Be a witness. This means observing and being aware of what is happening to a person every second. Pay attention to this, step back, then the past will recede. You should not concentrate your mind on one moment, otherwise you will find yourself trapped.
Let everything go. If a witness lives inside, he is turned to the present, then let go of everything that is not present at the moment. Stay here and now.
Breathe again. If thoughts and the world again interfere and take you away from the current moment in time, return to conscious breathing.

The technique of entering nirvana begins with the lotus position and even breathing

Thus, achieving nirvana is possible through conscious breathing, turning off thoughts about attachments and problems of the outside world, worldly life. It is impossible to achieve nirvana without letting go of the past and future. The sign of nirvana is here and now. As soon as you learn to break the connection with the world through meditation, you will step on the path to achieving this state of enlightenment, you will be freed from suffering. Buddha's followers devote their entire lives to this path; this is their main goal of existence. Each of us has our own path to enter nirvana and know the truth.

Conscious renunciation of nirvana

People, bodhisattvas, renounce it of their own free will. They achieve liberation, but still prefer to remain in the wheel of Samsara. But at the same time, a bodhisattva can change his decision and go to nirvana. For example, Shakyamuni was a bodhisattva during his lifetime. And after he died, he became Buddha and moved to nirvana.

Most of the idea behind such renunciation is the desire to help every living being achieve liberation. But to some, this explanation seems dubious. In this case, one question arises - if the bodhisattva has not yet been in nirvana (since he is alive, and it is inaccessible to him), how can he know what is happening there?

How does the state of nirvana feel?

The state of enlightenment is very pleasant to experience. And the person does not become like a program with a blissful expression on his face. Ideas about earthly life remain in his memory, but they cease to dominate him, remaining on the edge of the physical process. For the deep essence of the renewed personality, any activity is no different from the rest. Peace reigns within a person, and his spirit gains perfect life.

Achieving the state of nirvana in Buddhism is associated with gaining purity from killing the selfish nature without effort, and not suppressing it. If immoral aspirations have been restrained and infringed, they will reappear at the first opportunity. If the mind is freed from selfish motives, the corresponding psychological states do not arise, and purity does not require effort.

Nirvana in music

For some, the term “nirvana” denotes an elevated state, akin to insight. There are also people who consider it a place of final peace. But millions of music fans understand this word only as the name of the famous band. The Nirvana group completely changed the idea of the status of rock stars of the 90s of the 20th century. She was one of the unique representatives of the underground on stage. Nirvana also found its fans among punks, moshers, trash fans, fans of alternative rock music and the traditional mainstream. The name was one of the problems when creating the group. After many options were proposed, band leader Kurt Cobain settled on Nirvana as something good, in contrast to the usual rock, evil labels.