Tuesday, February 8, 2011

What is Nirvana ?

Can one describe Nirvana ?
This is an explanation from an experience.

Nirvana is a state that a developed mind can experience it. Nirvana can be experienced when the mind has no Kilasa, i.e. no impurities tainting the mind. It is an experience of utmost bliss, feeling of unlimited freedom. The mind feels unlimited knowledge available, yet it has no craving of anything, it has no desire of any physical or abstract objects. The mind has no attachment to any emotion, good or bad. The mind experiences emptiness or voidness (of any objects that it can recognize). The mind experiences calmness, yet retains full consciousness. It sees bright light, as if the observer was standing outdoor looking up to a sunny sky in an afternoon.

Although most Sekha persons can experience Nirvana only temporarily during meditation, Nirvana is a state which metaphysically exists all the time. Nirvana has no beginning and no ending. Time is infinity in Nirvana. Nevertheless lay-persons, with full Kilase tainting their undeveloped minds, can not experience it. Nirvana can not be wished or craved for.

Is there a meaningful purpose of human life ?


Why were we born ? Is there a duty (or duties) for us human ?
Were we born just to consume, to excrete, to sexually mate, to sleep ? Just to do these 4 main activities every day for a few years and then die ?
If that is the case, then how do humans differ from non-sapient animals ? Non-human animals also have those 4 activities.

I was informed from my teachers (Buddhist monks) and books that we have the main duty to develop our mind, in order to elevate its moral quality. When the mind is developed, it will be happier, more and more.

The purpose of Buddha's teaching is to lead humans into having happiness, from elimination of suffering inside the mind, regardless of their physical environments. If lay-persons and Sehka persons (i.e. the 3 classes of the developed ones, except the Arahanta) keep on developing their minds, they will become less-suffered from all worldly experiences they face in their lives. The state of ultimate happiness that a developed mind can experience is Nirvana, a Sanskrit term (also called Nibbana in Pali term). Sekha persons can experience Nirvana briefly, mainly during meditation. Arahanta monks can experience it anytime they want, not even a meditation is needed. That is according to words of a teacher of mine.