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Nirvana is

OneWithFlowOneWithFlow
edited March 2011 in Philosophy
According to dependent origination, birth, aging, death, are merely the product of a series of dependent links, starting with ignorance. So, it is seen from dependent origination, that birth and death are the result of ignorance. Samsara, the never-ending cycle of birth and death, is merely a product of our ignorance. So, without ignorance, there is no samsara. Without ignorance, there is nirvana. This means that what really IS is nirvana. Samsara is the fabrication which results from our ignorance. It has no true existence, because it does not exist if there is no ignorance. So, nirvana is simply what is. Nirvana is not some far off thing or place which can be reached within time or space. It is merely reality. It is what currently exists right here and right now. Only because of our ignorance it doesn't appear to exist, and thus we are stuck in "samsara," even though samsara has no real existence. So, nirvana is reality, samsara is what we think reality is through our false views. In dependent origination, from ignorance comes mental formations. Mental formations are what we think about reality. This is samsara. Nirvana is reality in actuality. It is not something to be achieved. It is reality as it actually is, now. Nirvana is, not will be. If Nirvana is something we hope to achieve then it is a mental formation, because it is not the present moment, and therefore, according to dependent origination, it is the result of ignorance, and therefore it is the cause of Samsara. Wake up and see reality as it is, Nirvana.

Comments

  • CloudCloud Veteran
    Too much thinking.
  • OneWithFlowOneWithFlow
    True. But it gets you to a point where you don't need to think. It is our thinking that creates samsara. Nirvana is. Why think?
  • CloudCloud Veteran
    edited March 2011
    Samsara is being ignorant of reality, craving happiness in ways that lead to suffering. Nirvana is seeing reality, letting go of craving and attachments.

    In truth these are two sides of the coin for mind, one can not exist without the other (suffering does not exist without non-suffering). We only need to understand them for the purpose of finding peace.

    Reality contains both Samsara and Nirvana, for there will always be minds clouded by ignorance and the capacity for minds to have clarity of reality. :)
  • OneWithFlowOneWithFlow
    True. And craving is simply a mental formation, which is the result of ignorance. As I said, nirvana is. To crave is to, through ignorance, desire something that is not currently your reality at the expense of reality, the present moment. Reality is nirvana. If you can see that, then there is nothing to crave.
  • SabreSabre Veteran
    Nirvana is cessation of suffering. Forever. Not just temporary here and now.
  • sukhitasukhita
    edited March 2011
    Nirvana is cessation of suffering. Forever. Not just temporary here and now.
    That's more like it.... The Buddha taught us many truths, but he labelled just four of them as NOBLE Truths. So, I think Nirvana is contained within these Truths. IMHO, the "Noble Truth of the cessation of dukkha" is what Nirvana is all about.
  • SabreSabre Veteran
    edited March 2011
    Indeed. To realize what nirvana is we need to remove wrong perceptions. This includes removing wrong perceptions about what nirvana is. ;)
  • DairyLamaDairyLama Veteran Veteran
    Nirvana is....never having to say you're sorry. ;-)

    P
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    And people, get it right.

    It's 'Nibbana'.

    ( :hiding: :D )
  • seeker242seeker242 Zen Florida, USA Veteran
    Not what you think it is.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    Nor is it otherwise. ;)
  • seeker242seeker242 Zen Florida, USA Veteran
    edited March 2011
    Nor is it otherwise. ;)
    Haha! Reminds me of one of my favorite sayings "Things are not what they appear to be, nor are they otherwise" Are you aware that his comes from a Mahayana sutra that is generally attributed to the Zennies? OMG!

    :p
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