In the Buddhist religion, it is said that each person wants to attain a state of serenity and bliss. Studying what nirvana is and how to enter it, the followers of oriental philosophy strive to join the Absolute and plunge into a state of serene happiness.
Nirvana - what is this?
The concept of nirvana comes from Eastern philosophy. Translated from the ancient Indian language, the word "nirvana" means "extinction, cessation". But unlike the Western understanding in Eastern philosophy, the concepts of cessation and extinction are endowed with a positive meaning. They mean getting rid of troubles, sorrows, suffering and constant struggle of life. Nirvana is a state in which a person's mind acquires a new quality. In this state, the brain gets freedom from thoughts, anxieties, desires. Thanks to this person a new world and understanding of life opens.
What is nirvana in Buddhism?
The concept of nirvana in Buddhism is one of the most difficult. The exact definition of this word could not give even the legendary founder of this religion Buddha Shakyamuni. In his statements, he only indirectly concerned nirvana, responding about him, as a state in which ordinary thoughts and emotions disappear. Although in the understanding of Europeans nirvana is closely related to a sense of happiness and serene joy, the ancestor of Buddhism never mentioned nirvana in combination with bliss and pleasure.
Nirvana in Buddhism is the antithesis of the wheel of samsara , by which we understand the world of experiences, aspirations, sufferings. Nirvana is not connected with feelings and emotions , it goes beyond the ordinary sensations, translating the human mind into another world. Among Buddhists there is no unambiguous understanding of this term. Often, Nirvana is treated like this:
- a state of complete serenity that can be achieved in this life through constant meditative practices;
- the state of a person after death.
Nirvana - Philosophy
Nirvana is one of the central concepts in Buddhist and Hindu philosophy, but there is no single and precise concept of what nirvana is. It is believed that this is the ultimate goal to which every soul strives. Nirvana helps to break the cycle of rebirth and unite with the higher spirit. Nirvana in the philosophy of Jainism is a state of the soul that has transcended the physical body and the circles of samsara. As the development of Buddhism, nirvana began to be perceived as an absolute, to which one can strive, but which is difficult to achieve.
Types of Nirvana
Nirvana of Buddhists does not have an exact definition. In connection with this, several types of nirvana are distinguished:
- mental - short-term state, in which a person feels an unusual rest and receives illumination;
- vital - the state of enlightenment achieved during life and breaking off a circle of karmic transformations;
- eternal, or true - a special state in which you can only be after a physical death.
What does it mean to achieve nirvana?
In people who are not interested in Eastern philosophy, the achievement of nirvana is associated with obtaining extremely pleasant emotions. In the understanding of these people, the entrance to nirvana is connected with the obtaining of pleasure. Eastern philosophy answers this question quite differently. The adherents of Buddhism and Jainism believe that to reach nirvana means to enter a new state in which there are no worries and experiences. In the state of nirvana, a person feels himself part of the universe and is in absolute rest.
How to get to Nirvana
Adherents of Buddhism of different ages have a dissimilar opinion as to how to comprehend nirvana. Some Buddhists believe that nirvana is unattainable for people in samsara. Others say that each person should feel the state of nirvana in his life, otherwise he will have to live one more life. Supporters of this theory give advice on how to enter nirvana. These tips will help you learn how to control and control your mind. This will be a good platform for meditation to reach the state of nirvana:
- Control of breathing . First you need to feel how the air passes through the entire body. Then fix your attention on the exhalation. In this state the body relaxes, the exhaust air leaves.
- Full immersion in activity . To master the state of nirvana, one must learn to concentrate on the activity that a person does. For example, if he reads, then all thoughts should only be about what he has read.
- Follow time and events . Do not get hung up on what has already passed. It is necessary to follow the current events, think about them and live in them.
Pose for entering nirvana
In the question of how to achieve nirvana, the pose is important. Beginners are best to start with a lotus posture, because it allows you to fix the body of a person in a comfortable state. Although nirvana is available in any position, it is necessary to choose those of them in which a person could not fall asleep while relaxing. The lotus posture consists of such components:
- The back should be straight;
- the shoulders are straightened;
- the heel of one leg is on the other's hip and vice versa, the heels should be kept closer to the stomach;
- arms relaxed and slightly bent at the elbows;
- palms open up;
- under the buttocks is better to put a small pillow;
- the body is slightly tilted forward.