Nirvana

How is NIRVANA described?

Cessation, letting go, renunciation, freeing,

from thirst, supreme status, holy, final

end
Freedom
FREEDOM FROM: Ignorance, fear, isolation,

(cause of) suffering

FREEDOM FOR: Peace, love, compassion,
wisdom
Detachment
ONION: peeling away all the layers to reveal

our natural condition (Ocean & Wave)

Nirvana and ME
This is where SELFLESSNESS is realized
Realization that you ARE Nirvana

We are an OCEAN that presents itself as a WAVE

The wave is part of the ocean, not a separate piece
Think we are separate and distinct, an I or Self

The wave returns the ocean

Distinction between self/no-self goes away
No I found in enlightenment
Directly aware of what IS

The illusion of separateness is realized and only

NIRVANA remains
Something called ME has never existed

Think about you and Nirvana for a moment while looking at this image of the ocean and the
wave. Where does the wave end and the ocean begin? Where does the ocean end and the
wave begin?
Where do you end and where does Nirvana begin?

Where is NIRVANA
located?

Where is NIRVANA
located?
In addition to depicting
impermanence and the various
aspects associated with
Samsara, the Wheel of Life also
illustrates the goal of liberation:
Nirvana.
Nirvana is located in the upper
left-hand corner of the image,
directly across from the Buddha
in the upper right-hand corner.
What this tells the viewer, is
that Nirvana, as the attainment
of liberation from duhkha, is
located OUTSIDE the cycle of
samsara.

The FOUR DIVINE

ABODES
Four states of mind one should cultivate in order to
reach Nirvana.

The FOUR ABODES

Attitudes of Compassion
2. Loving Kindness
3. Sympathetic Joy
4. Equanimity (calmness, tranquility)
1.

. Listed separately, but arent really

. When these are practiced correctly
. Break down barriers between yourself and other people
. Show oneness
. Show how you are suffering, close-minded, misguided
. Remind you that when you find yourself pointing a

finger at other people you really should be pointing that

finger at yourself first

Developing COMPASSION
Genuine compassion =
Acknowledging suffering of others
Opening your own heart to feel the suffering of others

without feeling overwhelmed by it

Empowering
Gives you a clear perception of the way things are
Many people are suffering and you can only help so much
Get strength to do what you can to help
Knowledge to understand that you cant help everyone

EXAMPLE:
The Serenity Prayer (used by Alcoholics Anonymous):

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot

change, the courage to change the things I can, and the
wisdom to know the difference.

Extending LOVING-KINDNESS
Value & cherish others and wish them all the

goodness that you would wish for yourself or

your family
EXAMPLE:
Mirror:
In a mirror you reflect the good inherent in another

person
Encourage them to open themselves
Help you loosen your own negativity

Cant love others until you love yourself

Extended loving-kindness to yourself first

Developing SYMPATHETIC JOY

Most difficult
Gets rid of the comparisons and judgment we make

about other people vs. ourselves

Allows you to see others as who they are
Genuinely share in their happiness and success (w/o

jealousy)
Enriches their experience
Increase your happiness
Break down barriers that separate you from other people
Who is going to want to share things with you or be friendly

with you if you have something nasty to say when they

come to you with a successful story about themselves?

Establishing EQUINAMITY
Peace of mind that embraces life as it is
Comes from realization of impermanence &

understanding that you cant control everything

Sometimes things just have to be

Makes you open completely to the way life is

Dont close yourself down to things
Dont deny what is happening in your life
Understanding that there is only so much you can

do in the world to change things

Develop a fearlessness in facing challenges of life
Radiate peace and calmness to others

SIX PERFECTIONS
Those who attain NIRVANA also live here.

Six Perfections
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Selfless Generosity/Charity
Benevolent Morality
Patient Endurance that difficulties in life cant
be changed
Energy to change things you can for the better
Concentration & Equanimity of meditation
Wisdom insight into existence

We will see these 6 Perfections in more detail

when we discuss Mahayana Buddhism and
the Path of the Bodhisattva.