I really struggled to get a flow going on this one. It still needs work, but time is not on my side. :-)
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Nirvana. What do you
think of when you hear the word? Besides
being the name of an extremely popular band, Nirvana is a concept in both the
Buddhist religion and Hinduism. The
overall concept agrees that Nirvana and enlightenment are so closely linked
that many incorrectly use the word interchangeably.
According to http://www.thefreedictionary.com/nirvana
, Hinduism defines Nirvana as “Emancipation
from ignorance and the extinction of all attachment”. Buddhism defines it as “The ineffable
ultimate in which one has attained disinterested wisdom and compassion”. Of course, that is a very simplified
definition but it serves as a start.
Buddhism was born from Hinduism so it is not surprising that they share
similar beliefs and values.
In Buddhism, there seems to be some disagreement as to what
Nirvana really is or how it can be reached.
The schools of thought differ mainly on when Nirvana can be reached. According
to the Theravada Buddhism Nirvana is an letting go of the defilement's of the
mind. It is when you are released from
the effects of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth. Mahayana Buddhism believes that Nirvana
extinguishes the duality and merging with Nirvana into an “absolute
existence”.
Whichever school of thought, its followers believe the path
to enlightenment comes through living the Eight Aspects of Enlightenment. They are also known as the guide to Buddhist
practice. The Aspects or Awareness’s
come from the Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra, which records the final teachings
of The Buddha before his death. It is
said that to fully realize the Awareness’s is to reach Nirvana. The eight Awareness’s build on each other
and they support each other.
Although they aren't numbered in reality, you have to start
somewhere with a list so we will start with “Freedom from Desire”. It comes from one of the four Nobel truths. The cause of suffering is thirst or
craving. It is believed that this comes
from a thirst that grows from ignorance of one’s self. We feel small in comparison to the universe
so we go through life trying to grab something that will make us feel
secure. Realizing “freedom from desire”
leads to and supports “satisfaction”.
“Satisfaction” comes directly from the release of
desires. We are dissatisfied because we
want things that we think we need or want.
Releasing the desires leads to satisfaction, which in turn leads to
“Serenity”.
“Serenity” comes naturally from the other Awareness’s and
true serenity cannot be created. It just
happens when we realize the “uncreated”. “ …To realize the uncreated is to
realize that which has no beginning or end”.
Realizing the uncreated takes “meticulous effort” which is another of
the eight awareness’s.
“Meticulous Effort” sometimes translated correctly as
“diligence”. This “Meticulous Effort”
relates to the “right Effort” of the Eightfold Path.
“Correct Remembrance”
also called “right mindfulness” also relates to the Eightfold Path. It refers to ‘remembering’ where we are, what we are doing, and who we are with. In other words, being in the moment and being
aware of where you are.
“Samadhi” which is translated as “concentration” develops
from mindfulness. It is a special type
of concentration that comes in a state of deep meditation. As Samadhi comes from mindfulness, “wisdom”
develops from Samadhi.
“Wisdom” is a particular kind of wisdom that is experienced
rather than simply conceptualized. It is
the insight that casts away ignorance of the self. This point is often thought of as
“enlightened” but to reach Nirvana one must incorporate another of the
Eightfold Path. It is “Avoiding idle
talk”. Since Karma is not confined to
mind and body but speech as well.
In reaching enlightenment, some say you have reached
Nirvana, but according to The Buddha, most must die to reach Nirvana. The fact that he reached Nirvana while
sitting under a Bodhi tree, served to show all who heard of his story, that he
was a very spiritual man whose words should be heeded.
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