NIRVANA
What is it? Nirvana is the ultimate goal of all Buddhist practices. In Theravada Buddhism, it is seen as a state beyond space and time, while in Zen or Mahayana traditions, it is synonymous with realizing one's innate Buddha nature. The first describing a physical experience, while the latter, wisdom. It is also known as enlightenment and awakening. There is a lot of unnecessary confusion on these terms, Bodhidharma, the first patriarch of Zen said scriptures and too much thinking are not the way to lberation or Nirvana. Gautama Buddha attained Nirvana after six years of rigorous yoga practice and meditation. He described Nirvana as the cessation of suffering, the extinguishing of the "three fires" or "three poisons"—greed, aversion, and ignorance. It is often expected to be a profound state, of liberation and tranquility, transcending the mundane world. How do you get it? To achieve nirvana or to extinguish these fires, Buddha offered the Noble Ei...