Followings are the main points from an article by Thich Nhat Hanh. The original article is lengthy so I just post the main points.
The Essence of the Buddha's Teaching (3):
Nirvana
The third mark of an authentic Buddhist teaching is nirvana. Nirvana is the basis of everything, as water is the basis of any wave. If the wave meditates, if it takes a moment to look at its own nature, it recognizes that it contains all the other waves. It is like the flower - it contains the whole cosmos.
When you look at orange blossoms, you do not see oranges. But if you are a meditator, you see the oranges right away. You do not have to wait for them to manifest, because you see that the orange blossoms contain the oranges.
Nirvana is the extinction of all concepts, and the extinction of the pain that concepts cause. The idea of birth and the idea of death can make you suffer a lot. We find the idea of nonbeing terrifying, so please just get rid of this concept. You aren't afraid of the kaleidoscope-you don't cry every time an appearance in the kaleidoscope disappears. The same thing is true of life. You don't need to be afraid, because there is neither birth nor death, only successive manifestations. The earth, our mother, has given birth to us thousands and thousands of times. We manifest and then we return to the elements that compose us, only to manifest once again. Nothing is lost. The insight has the ability to get us out of our prison.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From the book : Be a Lamp Upon Yourself
Nirvana, the "world" beyond birth and death, permanence and impermanence, self and non-self. Nirvana is not the absence of life. Nirvana can be found in this very life. Nirvana means the pacifying, silencing or extinguishment of the fire of suffering. Nirvana teaches that we are already what we want to become within. We don't have to run after anything anymore. We only need to return to ourselves and touch our true nature. When we do this, we will have real peace and joy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Heavenly beings (Gods & Goddesses) have not attained Nirvana, they are just like humans have emotions like anger, hatred, jealousy, happiness, sadness etc. Buddha has attained Nirvana and trancends human emotions).
The Essence of the Buddha's Teaching (3):
Nirvana
The third mark of an authentic Buddhist teaching is nirvana. Nirvana is the basis of everything, as water is the basis of any wave. If the wave meditates, if it takes a moment to look at its own nature, it recognizes that it contains all the other waves. It is like the flower - it contains the whole cosmos.
When you look at orange blossoms, you do not see oranges. But if you are a meditator, you see the oranges right away. You do not have to wait for them to manifest, because you see that the orange blossoms contain the oranges.
Nirvana is the extinction of all concepts, and the extinction of the pain that concepts cause. The idea of birth and the idea of death can make you suffer a lot. We find the idea of nonbeing terrifying, so please just get rid of this concept. You aren't afraid of the kaleidoscope-you don't cry every time an appearance in the kaleidoscope disappears. The same thing is true of life. You don't need to be afraid, because there is neither birth nor death, only successive manifestations. The earth, our mother, has given birth to us thousands and thousands of times. We manifest and then we return to the elements that compose us, only to manifest once again. Nothing is lost. The insight has the ability to get us out of our prison.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From the book : Be a Lamp Upon Yourself
Nirvana, the "world" beyond birth and death, permanence and impermanence, self and non-self. Nirvana is not the absence of life. Nirvana can be found in this very life. Nirvana means the pacifying, silencing or extinguishment of the fire of suffering. Nirvana teaches that we are already what we want to become within. We don't have to run after anything anymore. We only need to return to ourselves and touch our true nature. When we do this, we will have real peace and joy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Heavenly beings (Gods & Goddesses) have not attained Nirvana, they are just like humans have emotions like anger, hatred, jealousy, happiness, sadness etc. Buddha has attained Nirvana and trancends human emotions).
No comments:
Post a Comment