NIRVANA
– What is it?
„blown
out like a candle“ or „quenched“
Are
you ready for putting another log on our campfire and listen to a
story? At the campfire our thoughts ramble.
I
did a little homework to understand the idea of „Nirvana“ and the
connected „Samsara“ how I could work for my own Buddhahood to
help others if I would find time. This is necessary before talking
about the fictive situation, that we put our monotheistic GOD into
Nirvana and think about how „he“ feels there.
If
Nirvana meant really squinching of the candle literally, than our
campfire would not exist here, because I feel content with our
situation here. And what about feelings, personal identity and our
personal liberated ultimate contentment, would it be squinched?
The
„magi“ speak of two kinds of Nirvana, one that is even already
achievable in this world, as human being and the other after the
death, the buddahood in this life is Nirvana.
In
Buddhism a person can be in this live in the state of Buddhahood,
what would be the same as being already in Nirvana, but this kind of
Nirvana is only achievable after much CHANGE in someones thoughts and
deeds, liberation, awakeing. Yes furthermore, this kind of change of
mind is positive, a positiv change that leads to enlightenment, the
state of altruistic BUDDAHOOD and the release of our inner
buddha-nature, say the magi.
As
for the Nirvana-state in this life, the CONTENTMENT does not
mean – as we saw - liberation of feelings, emotions but in
contrary the fullness of empathy towards other beings.
What
than is meant with the „extinguished flame“ in Nirvana, if the
personal true nature/individuality the EGO is not „quenched“? It
turns around the „ CHANGING triple
FIRE“ of „illusion, greed and hatred“ - the source of suffering
- from which in Nirvana you are liberated, they are blown out.
Truth
of Cessation of Suffering.
„It
is clear that nirvana-in-this-life is a pyschological and ethical
reality, a transformed state of personality characterised by peace,
deep spiritual joy, compassion, and a regined and subtle awareness.
Negative emotional states and emotions such as doubt, worry, anxiety
and fear are absent from the enlightened mind.“
Truth
of Cessation of Suffering.
To
come further I go first into explaining how the way to Nirvana looks
like and how it can the state of Nirvana/Buddahood is achieved.
I
read “How to expand love, widening the cycle of loving
relationship“, 2005 by Dalai Lama. In this book he describes the
way of altruistic enlightenment as mediation, awareness, widening out
out empathy on all beings, commandable meriterious altruistic
deeds.
Fundament: Equality
of friend and enemy, meditation
-
First
step: Positive attitute towards other beings
-
Second
step: Appreciation of benignity and amicability
-
Third
step: Responding to benignity
-
Fourth
step: Love, solidarity, awareness of suffering, care
(unconditional Love)
-
Fiftch
step: Development of Pity and mercy,
(Desire to see others
released of suffering) -
Sixth
step: Pledge oneself to altruism and charity, (unconditional
devotion)
-
Seventh
step: Unselfish altruistic entlightment
(transformation from
egoisms to healthy welfare and love towards others)
Conclusions:
So everthing in buddhism turns around „AWAKENING“ of the
spirit. This is a process
accompanied by CHANGE, wisdom, learning, meditating,
empathy, doing.
“Ultimate
enlightenement therefore is not egoism of the individual, redemption
for yourself without thinking of others, but is only achievable
through being merciful and pityful to other beings.
Dalai
Lama writes: So you will not rest in peace but consecrate yourself
to the wellbeing of others....The endpoint of spiritual practice is
the large empathy.“
The
wellknown titels for this way of AWAKEING are:
Buddahood
[Awakended one = being benefit all beings]
Buddanature
[awakened mind]
Bodhisattva
[someone who wants to awake]
NIRVANA
[state after awakening],
The
highest degree is in buddhism the enlightenment [AWAKENING] which is
the permant presence of empathy.
Dalai
Lama writes: So you will not rest in peace but consecrate yourself
to the wellbeing of others....The endpoint of spiritual practice is
the large empathy.“
_____
Terry:
Buddhists might describe the ultimate state of existence as NIRVANA.
Nirvana means that the candle has been blown out.
It describes the darkness and peace God was in BEFORE he decided to change.__
So my understanding of the meaning of "blowing out the candle" is now not any longer a state of DARKNESS, BOREDOM, LONELINES in heaven but of AWAKENING,TRUE COMMUNION, FRIENDSHIP like at our fine campfire here, with flames of empathy, flames from our hearts, free of false illusions. This comes close to nirvana-paradise.
How does this fit to a GOD FLOATING over the sea?
More shall come if my spiritual condition allows.
_______
SAMSARA - NIRVANA - cling to each other
In
this enlightened BUDDHAHOOD state that anyone can theorically achieve
by own efforts and preexisting abilities like buddha nature the
NIRVANA, the inner freedom means simple the exemption from the
conditional world called SAMSARA, which is the conditional world
existing only in our imagination that causes pain due to our
compulsive spiritual attachment or adherence to false premises,
dualistic ideas, fears and hopes, changing conditions and false
premises of the own EGO, SAMSARA is described as endless world-cycle
of painful and conditional experienes. Only then we understand why
NIRVANA is unclear translated as „great quenching“, it turns
around „exemption from evil conditional thoughts and not from
feelings, experiences, personality or happiness in general.
In
contrary in turns around bringing out the best of mankind to its full
enlightenment, values, love, mercy and empathy and realisation about
an inconditional permanent true condition of the clear spirit as a
boundless candor.
_____
COMPARISONS
Comparsion 1- House built on sand
I
would compare the SAMSARA notion for the beginning - in a limping
comparison of course - with the biblical „house that is built on
sand, and not built on permanent positive values or treasures with
God.“ Samsara would in my comparison be then a whole WORLD built on
sand, built on false premises and veiled spirit. True values and
happiness would be found only then in the House of Nirvana, the
world-House of values and clear spirit of boundless spirit. If you like kingdom-spirit (NIRVANA) against wordly spirit (SAMSARA)
Note: It turns around spiritual conditions in our mind.
