Nibbana
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Nibbana (Pali), nirvana (Sanskrit), is the highest spiritual state and the ultimate goal of Buddhism.
The word nibbana comes from nir meaning ‘stop’ and và meaning ‘to blow.’ Thus Nibbana is the extinguishing or blowing out of the fires of greed, hatred and ignorance. Alternatively, it may come from nir plus vana meaning ‘desire’ and thus mean the ‘stopping of desire.’ When, as a result of practicing The Noble Eightfold Middle Path, ignorance and craving give way to knowledge and fulfilment, one attains Nibbana and at death is no longer subject to rebirth and all the suffering that entails.
Nibbana is only the most well-known name the Buddha uses for this exalted state. He also called it The Culmination, The Further Shore, Truth, The Immaculate, The Joyful, Utter Peace, The Wonderful, The Pure, The Safe Refuge, etc (S.IV,369-72).
33 synonyms for Nibbana
- The Unconditioned
- The destruction of lust, hate, delusion
- The Uninclined
- The taintless
- The truth
- The other shore
- The subtle
- The very difficult to see
- The unaging
- The stable
- The undisintegrating
- The unmanifest
- The unproliferated
- The peaceful
- The deathless
- The sublime
- The auspicious
- The secure
- The destruction of craving
- The wonderful
- The amazing
- The unailing
- The unailing state
- The unafflicted
- Dispassion
- Purity
- Freedom
- Non-attachment
- The island
- The shelter
- The asylum
- The refuge
- The destination and the path leading to the destination
References
- The Complete Book of Buddha's Lists -- Explained. David N. Snyder, Ph.D., 2006.
- http://www.thedhamma.com/