Nibbana, Nibbāna: 10 definitions

Introduction:

Nibbana means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Access to Insight: A Glossary of Pali and Buddhist Terms

Liberation; literally, the "unbinding" of the mind from the mental effluents (see asava), defilements (see kilesa), and the round of rebirth (see vatta), and from all that can be described or defined. As this term also denotes the extinguishing of a fire, it carries the connotations of stilling, cooling, and peace. (According to the physics taught at the time of the Buddha, a burning fire seizes or adheres to its fuel; when extinguished, it is unbound.) "Total nibbana" in some contexts denotes the experience of Awakening; in others, the final passing away of an arahant. Hindrances to concentration - sensual desire, ill will, sloth and drowsiness, restlessness and anxiety, and uncertainty.

Source: Dhamma Dana: Pali English Glossary

N (Disappearance of mental impurities (and of the dangers that they do carry out)). Reality bearing neither object, nor consciousness. Innibbana, physical and mental phenomena do no longer appear.

When a being does experience nibbana, he/she becomes an ariya. Being no longer enclined to commit strongly negative actions, such as killing or stealing, he/she will never take birth within lower worlds. nibbana can be experienced a large number of times and last from the fraction of a second up to several hours according to the intensity of concentration being developed. The one who has eradicated the whole of kilesas (the arahanta) will experience nibbana at the end of his/her life and will never more depart from it. This is called parinibbana.

Among all these terms, nibbana is probably the subtlest and most difficult to understand. It is inconceivable by definition.

See also: nibbana

Source: Journey to Nibbana: Patthana Dhama

Nibbana is where we intend to destinate and nibbana is our definite goal. No other dhamma excels nibbana and after crossing samsara oceans with panna ocean liner there is nibbana welcoming us with full effect.

Nibbana the term derives from ivana or irvana. Ni means ikkhanta or liberated from vana or binding. Vana is the dhamma that bind various different lives in the samsara. So nibbana means liberated from binding in the samsara. This binding is tanha.

Nibbana is the Fourth Ultimate Reality.

While nibbana is wide, deep, and large, the simile ocean is used for nibbana.

Source: Buddhist Information: A Survey of Paramattha Dhammas

Nibbana is the Dhamma which is the end of defilements and the ceasing of dukkha. Nibbana does not have conditions which could cause its arising, it does not arise and fall away.

Source: Dhamma Study: Introduction to the Dhamma

Nibbana is the one kind of unconditioned reality. It is not matter, it is not a place where one goes, it has no form or shape or solidity, it is not something that one unites with. It is a mental phenomena, but it is different from consciousness and mental factors. It is unconditioned. That means that there are no causes which make it arise. It does not begin and it does not end. It does not experience anything, but it can be the object of experience. It is experienced by supra mundane consciousness, i.e., the consciousness that contains fully developed wisdom.

It is also important to note that it cannot be understood intellectually. It can only by directly experienced when wisdom has been sufficiently developed.

Source: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines

(Sanskrit nirvāna): lit. 'extinction' (nir + Ö va, to cease blowing, to become extinguished); according to the commentaries, 'freedom from desire' (nir+ vana). Nibbāna constitutes the highest and ultimate goal of all Buddhist aspirations, i.e. absolute extinction of that life-affirming will manifested as greed, hate and delusion, and convulsively clinging to existence; and therewith also the ultimate and absolute deliverance from all future rebirth, old age, disease and death, from all suffering and misery. Cf. Parinibbāna.

"Extinction of greed, extinction of hate, extinction of delusion: this is called Nibbāna" (S. XXXVIII. 1).

The 2 aspects of Nibbāna are:

(1) The full extinction of defilements (kilesa-parinibbāna), also called sa-upādi-sesa-nibbāna (s. It. 41), i.e. 'Nibbāna with the groups of existence still remaining' (s. upādi). This takes place at the attainment of Arahatship, or perfect holiness (s. ariya-puggala).

(2) The full extinction of the groups of existence (khandha-parinibbāna), also called an-upādi-sesa-nibbāna (s. It. 41, A.IV.118), i.e. 'Nibbāna without the groups remaining', in other words, the coming to rest, or rather the 'no-more-continuing' of this physico-mental process of existence. This takes place at the death of the Arahat. - (App.: Nibbāna).

Sometimes both aspects take place at one and the same moment, i.e. at the death of the Arahat; s. sama-sīsī.

"This, o monks, truly is the peace, this is the highest, namely the end of all formations, the forsaking of every substratum of rebirth, the fading away of craving, detachment, extinction, Nibbāna" (A. III, 32).

"Enraptured with lust (rāga), enraged with anger (dosa), blinded by delusion (moha), overwhelmed, with mind ensnared, man aims at his own ruin, at the ruin of others, at the ruin of both, and he experiences mental pain and grief. But if lust, anger and delusion are given up, man aims neither at his own ruin, nor at the ruin of others, nor at the ruin of both, and he experiences no mental pain and grief. Thus is Nibbāna visible in this life, immediate, inviting, attractive, and comprehensible to the wise" (A.III.55).

"Just as a rock of one solid mass remains unshaken by the wind, even so neither visible forms, nor sounds, nor odours, nor tastes, nor bodily impressions, neither the desired nor the undesired, can cause such a one to waver. Steadfast is his mind, gained is deliverance" (A.VI.55).

"Verily, there is an Unborn, Unoriginated, Uncreated, Unformed. If there were not this Unborn, Unoriginated, Uncreated, Unformed, escape from the world of the born, the originated, the created, the formed, would not be possible" (Ud.VIII.3).

One cannot too often and too emphatically stress the fact that not only for the actual realization of the goal of Nibbāna, but also for a theoretical understanding of it, it is an indispensable preliminary condition to grasp fully the truth of anattā (q.v.), the egolessness and insubstantiality of all forms of existence. Without such an understanding, one will necessarily misconceive Nibbāna - according to one's either materialistic or metaphysical leanings - either as annihilation of an ego, or as an eternal state of existence into which an ego or self enters or with which it merges. Hence it is said:

"Mere suffering exists, no sufferer is found; The deed is, but no doer of the deed is there; Nibbāna is, but not the man that enters it; The path is, but no traveler on it is seen." (Vis.M. XVI)

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Discover the meaning of nibbana in the context of Theravada from relevant books on Exotic India

General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: Amaravati: Glossary

(nib bah na) freedom from attachments. The basis for the enlightened vision of things as they are. (Sanskrit: Nirvana.)

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Nibbana in Pali glossary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

nibbana : (adj.) free from craving. || nibbāna (nt.), cooling; extinction (of a fire); emancipation; the final bliss.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Nibbāna, (nt.).—I. Etymology. Although nir+ “to blow”. (cp. BSk. nirvāṇa) is already in use in the Vedic period (see nibbāpeti), we do not find its distinctive application till later and more commonly in popular use, where is fused with vṛ in this sense, viz. in application to the extinguishing of fire, which is the prevailing Buddhist conception of the term. Only in the older texts do we find references to a simile of the wind and the flame; but by far the most common metaphor and that which governs the whole idea of nibbāna finds expression in the putting out of fire by other means of extinction than by blowing, which latter process rather tends to incite the fire than to extinguish it. The going out of the fire may be due to covering it up, or to depriving it of further fuel, by not feeding it, or by withdrawing the cause of its production. Thus to the Pali etymologist the main reference is to the root vṛ (to cover), and not to (to blow). This is still more clearly evident in the case of nibbuta (q. v. for further discussion). In verbal compn. nis+ (see vāyati) refers only to the (non-) emittance of an odour, which could never be used for a meaning of “being exhausted”; moreover, one has to bear in mind that native commentators themselves never thought of explaining nibbāna by anything like blowing (vāta), but always by nis+vana (see nibbana). For Bdhgh’s definition of nibbāna see e.g. Vism. 293.—The meanings of n. are: 1. the going out of a lamp or fire (popular meaning).—2. health, the sense of bodily well-being (probably, at first, the passing away of feverishness, restlessness).—3. The dying out in the heart of the threefold fire of rāga, dosa & moha: lust, ill-will & stupidity (Buddhistic meaning). ‹-› 4. the sense of spiritual well-being, of security, emancipation, victory and peace, salvation, bliss.

II. Import and Range of the Term. A. Nibbāna is purely and solely an ethical state, to be reached in this birth by ethical practices, contemplation and insight. It is therefore not transcendental. The first and most important way to reach N. is by means of the eightfold Path, and all expressions which deal with the realisation of emancipation from lust, hatred and illusion apply to practical habits and not to speculative thought. N. is realised in one’s heart; to measure it with a speculative measure is to apply a wrong standard.—A very apt and comprehensive discussion of nibbāna is found in F. Heiler, “Die buddhistische Versenkung” (München2 1922), pp. 36—42, where also the main literature on the subject is given.—N. is the untranslatable expression of the Unspeakable, of that for which in the Buddha’s own saying there is no word, which cannot be grasped in terms of reasoning and cool logic, the Nameless, Undefinable (cp. the simile of extinction of the flame which may be said to pass from a visible state into a state which cannot be defined. Thus the Saint (Arahant) passes into that same state, for which there is “no measure” (i.e. no dimension): “atthaṅgatassa na pamāṇam atthi ... yena naṃ vajju: taṃ tassa n’atthi” Sn. 1076. The simile in v. 1074: “accī yathā vāta-vegena khitto atthaṃ paleti, na upeti saṅkhaṃ: evaṃ munī nāmakāyā vimutto atthaṃ paleti, na upeti saṅkhaṃ”). Yet, it is a reality, and its characteristic features may be described, may be grasped in terms of earthly language, in terms of space (as this is the only means at our disposal to describe abstract notions of time and mentality); e.g. accutaṃ ṭhānaṃ, pāraṃ, amataṃ padaṃ, amata (& nibbāna-) dhātu.—It is the speculative, scholastic view and the dogmatising trend of later times, beginning with the Abhidhamma period, which has more and more developed the simple, spontaneous idea into an exaggerated form either to the positive (i.e. seeing in N. a definite state or sphere of existence) or the negative side (i.e. seeing in it a condition of utter annihilation). Yet its sentimental value to the (exuberant optimism of the) early Buddhists (Rh. Davids, Early Buddhism, p. 73) is one of peace and rest, perfect passionlessness, and thus supreme happiness. As Heiler in the words of R. Otto (Das Heilige etc. 1917; quoted l. c. p. 41) describes it, “only by its concept Nirvāna is something negative, by its sentiment, however, a positive item in most pronounced form. ” — We may also quote Rh. Davids’words: “One might fill columns with the praises, many of them among the most beautiful passages in Pāli poetry and prose, lavished on this condition of mind, the state of the man made perfect according to the B. faith. Many are the pet names, the poetic epithets, bestowed upon it, each of them-for they are not synonyms-emphasising one or other phase of this many-sided conception-the harbour of refuge, the cool cave, the island amidst the floods, the place of bliss, emancipation, liberation, safety, the supreme, the transcendental, the uncreated, the tranquil, the home of ease, the calm, the end of suffering, the medicine for all evil, the unshaken, the ambrosia, the immaterial, the imperishable, the abiding, the further shore, the unending, the bliss of effort, the supreme joy, the ineffable, the detachment, the holy city, and many others. Perhaps the most frequent in the B. texts is Arahantship, “the state of him who is worthy” ; and the one exclusively used in Europe is Nirvana, the “dying out, ” that is, the dying out in the heart of the fell fire of the three cardinal sins-sensuality, ill-will, and stupidity (Saṃyutta IV. 251, 261), ” (Early Buddhism pp. 72, 73.) And Heiler says (p. 42 l. c.): “Nirvāna is, although it might sound a paradox, in spite of all conceptional negativity nothing but “eternal salvation, ” after which the heart of the religious yearns on the whole earth. ”

The current simile is that of fire, the consuming fire of passion (rāg-aggi), of craving for rebirth, which has to be extinguished, if a man is to attain a condition of indifference towards everything worldly, and which in the end, in its own good time, may lead to freedom from rebirth altogether, to certain and final extinction (parinibbāna).—Fire may be put out by water, or may go out of itself from lack of fuel. The ethical state called Nibbāna can only rise from within. It is therefore in the older texts compared to the fire going out, rather than to the fire being put out. The latter point of view, though the word nibbāna is not used, occurs in one or two passages in later books. See J. I, 212; Miln. 346, 410; SnA 28; Sdhp. 584. For the older view see M. I, 487 (aggi anāhāro nibbuto, a fire gone out through lack of fuel); Sn. 1094 (akiñcanaṃ anādānaṃ etaṃ dīpaṃ anāparaṃ Nibbānaṃ iti); S. I, 236 (attadaṇḍesu nibbuto sādānesu anādāno); S. II, 85 (aggikkhandho purimassa upādānassa pariyādānā aññassa ca anupāhārā anāhāro nibbāyeyya, as a fire would go out, bereft of food, because the former supply being finished no additional supply is forthcoming); sa-upādāno devānaṃ indo na parinibbāyati, the king of the gods does not escape rebirth so long as he has within him any grasping S. IV, 102; pāragū sabbadhammānaṃ anupādāya nibbuto A. I, 162; pāragato jhāyī anup° nibbuto, a philosopher, freed, without any cause, source, of rebirth A. IV, 290 (etc., see nibbuta). dāvaggi-nibbānaṃ the going out of the jungle fire J. I, 212; aggi nibbāyeyya, should the fire go out M. I, 487; aggikkhandho nibbuto hoti the great fire has died out Miln. 304; nibbuto ginī my fire is out Sn. 19. The result of quenching the fire (going out) is coolness (sīta); and one who has attained the state of coolness is sītibhūta. sītibhūto ‘smi nibbuto Vin. I, 8; Pv. I, 87; sītibhūto nirūpadhi, cooled, with no more fuel (to produce heat) Vin. II, 156; A. I, 138; nicchāto nibbuto sītibhūto (cp. nicchāta) A. II, 208; V, 65. anupādānā dīpacci viya nibbutā gone out like the flame of a lamp without supply of fuel ThA. 154 (Ap. 153).—nibbanti dhīrā yath’âyaṃ padīpo the Wise go out like the flame of this lamp Sn. 235. This refers to the pulling out of the wick or to lack of oil, not to a blowing out; cp. vaṭṭiṃ paṭicca telapadīpo jāleyya S. II, 86; Th. 2, 116 (padīpass’eva nibbānaṃ vimokkho ahu cetaso). The pulling out of the wick is expressed by vaṭṭiṃ okassayāmi (=dīpavaṭṭiṃ ākaḍḍhemi ThA. 117) cp. on this passage Pischel, Leben & Lehre des Buddha 71; Mrs. Rh. Davids, Buddhism 176; Neumann, Lieder 298). Pajjotass’eva nibbānaṃ like the going out of a lamp S. I, 159≈.

B. Since rebirth is the result of wrong desire (kāma, kilesa, āsava, rāga etc.), the dying out of that desire leads to freedom & salvation from rebirth and its cause or substratum. Here references should be given to: (1) the fuel in ethical sense (cp. A 1: aggi); (2) the aims to be accomplished (for instance, coolness=peace); (3) the seat of its realisation (the heart); (4) the means of achievement (the Path); (5) the obstacles to be removed.—1. Fuel=cause of rebirth & suffering: āsāva (intoxications). khīṇāsavā jutimanto to loke parinibbutā the wise who are rid of all intoxications are in this world the thoroughly free S. V, 29; sāvakā āsavānaṃ khayā viharanti A. IV, 83; kodhaṃ pahatvāna parinibbiṃsu anāsavā (are completely cooled) A. IV, 98; āsavakhīṇo danto parinibbuto Sn. 370; saggaṃ sugatino yanti parinibbanti anāsavā those of happy fate go to heaven, but those not intoxicated die out Dh. 126; nibbānaṃ adhimuttānaṃ atthaṅgacchanti āsavā Dh. 226; āsavānaṃ khayā bhikkhu nicchāto parinibbuto It. 49; vimutti-kusuma-sañchanno parinibbissati anāsavo Th. 1, 100.—kāmā (cravings) nikkāmo nibbano Nāgo Sn. 1131.—kilesa-(nibbāna) vice (only in certain commentaries). kilesa-nibbānass’âpi anupādā parinibbānass’âpi santike DhA. I, 286; upādānaṃ abhāvena anupādiyitvā kilesa-nibbānena nibbutā DhA. IV, 194.—nibbidā (disenchantment). Nibbānaṃ ekanta-nibbidāya virāgāya etc. saṃvattati S. II, 223; nibbijjha sabbaso kāme sikkhe nibbānaṃ attano Sn. 940.—rāga virāgo nirodho nibbānaṃ S. I, 136≈; desento virajaṃ dhammaṃ nibbānaṃ akutobhayan S. I, 192; yo rāgakkhayo (dosa° . . . moha° . . . ): idaṃ vuccati nibbānaṃ S. IV, 251, & same of Amata S. V, 8; chandarāga-vinodanaṃ nibbānapadaṃ accutaṃ Sn. 1086; kusalo ca jahati pāpakaṃ rāgadosamoha-kkhayā parinibbuto Ud. 85; ye ‘dha pajahanti kāmarāgaṃ bhavarāgânusayañ ca pahāya parinibbānagatā Vv 5324.—vana sabba-saṃyojan’atītaṃ vanā nibbānaṃ āgataṃ A. III, 346; nikkhantaṃ vānato ti nibbānaṃ KhA 151; taṇhā-saṅkhāta-vānâbhāvato nibbānaṃ SnA 253.

2. Aims: khema (tranquillity). ātāpī bhikkhu nibbānāya bhabbo anuttarassa yogakkhemassa adhigamāya It. 27; ajaraṃ amaraṃ khemaṃ pariyessāmi nibbutiṃ J. I, 3; acala (immovable, not to be disturbed). patto acalaṭṭhānaṃ Vv 514; accuta (stable) patthayaṃ accutaṃ padaṃ S. III, 143; chandarāga-vinodanaṃ nibbānapadaṃ accutaṃ Sn. 1086. nekkhamma (renunciation, dispassionateness). vanā nibbānaṃ āgataṃ kāmehi nekkhammarataṃ A. III, 346.—pāragū (victor). pāragū sabbadhammānaṃ anupādāya nibbuto A. I, 162 (cp. A. IV, 290 with tiṇṇo pāragato).—santipada (calm, composure). santī ti nibbutiṃ ñatvā Sn. 933; santimaggaṃ eva brūhaya nibbānaṃ sugatena desitaṃ Dh. 285; s. =acala VvA. 219.—samatha (allayment, quietude). sabbasaṅkhārasamatho nibbānaṃ S. I, 136≈.—sotthi (welfare). saccena suvatthi hotu nibbānaṃ Sn. 235.

3. The Heart: (a) attā (heart, self). abhinibbut-atto Sn. 456; thiṭatto frequent, e.g. parinibbuto ṭh° Sn. 359; danto parinib° ṭh° Sn. 370.—(b) citta (heart). apariḍayhamāna-citto SnA 347 (for abhinibbutatto Sn. 343).—(c) hadaya (heart) nibbānaṃ hadayasmiṃ opiya S. I, 199; mātuhadayaṃ nibbāyate J. I, 61; nibbāpehi me hadaya-pariḷāhaṃ (quench the fever of my heart) Miln. 318.—(d) mano (mind). mano nibbāyi tāvade J. I, 27; disvā mano me pasīdi Vv 5014.

4. The Path: dhīra. lokapariyāyaṃ aññāya nibbutā dhīrā tiṇṇā etc. S. I, 24; nibbanti dhīrā ... Sn. 235 sabbâbhibhū dhīro sabbagantha-ppamocano It. 122 ‹-› Recognition of anicca (transitoriness, see nicca). aniccasaññī . . . bhikkhu pāpuṇāti diṭṭh’eva dhamme nibbānaṃ A. IV, 353.—paññā. nibbānaṃ ev’ajjhagamuṃ sapaññā S. I, 22; n’abhirato paññā S. I, 38. ‹-› paṇḍita & nipaka. anupubbena n°ṃ adhigacchanti paṇḍitā A. I, 162; nipakā asesaṃ parinibbanti It. 93. ‹-› vijjā. bhikkhu paṇihitena cittena avijjaṃ bhecchati vijjaṃ uppādessati n°ṃ sacchikarissati the bhikkhu with devout heart will destroy ignorance, gain right cognition & realise Nibbāna A. I, 8; idh’aññāya parinibbāti anāsavo A. III, 41; sabb’āsave pariññāya parinibbanti anāsavā Vbh. 426.

5. The Obstacles: gantha (fetter). nibbānaṃ adhigantabbaṃ sabba-g°-pamocanaṃ S. I, 210; It. 104; similarly It. 122 (see above). gabbhaseyyā (rebirth). na te punam upenti gabbhaseyyaṃ, parinibbānagatā hi sītibhūtā Vv 5324nīvaraṇa (obstacles). pañca n°. anibbāna-saṃvattanikā S. V, 97.—punabbhava (rebirth). nibbāpehi mahārāgaṃ mā ḍayhittho punappunaṃ S. I, 188; vibhavañ ca bhavañ ca vippahāya vusitavā khīṇapunabbhavo sa bhikkhu Sn. 514; bhava-nirodha nibbānaṃ S. II, 117.—saṅkhārā (elements of life). sabbasaṅkhāra-samatho nibbānaṃ S. I, 136; N. =sabbasaṅkhārā khayissanti A. III, 443.—saṃyojanāni (fetters). sabbas-âtītaṃ vanā Nibbānaṃ āgataṃ A. III, 346; s. pahāya n°ṃ sacchikarissati A. III, 423; saṃyojanānaṃ parikkhayā antarā-parinibbāyī hoti S. V, 69.

III. Nibbāna: its ethical importance and general characterisation. 1. Assurance of N. (nibbānass’eva santike, near N. , sure of N.): S. I, 33 (yassa etādisaṃ yānaṃ ... sa etena yānena n. e. s. : with the chariot of the Dhamma sure of reaching N.); IV, 75; A. II, 39 (abhabbo parihānāya n. e. s. impossible to fail in the assurance of final release, of one “catuhi dhammehi samannāgato, viz. sīla, indriyaguttadvāratā, bhojanamattaññutā. jāgariyā”); III, 331 (id. with appamādagaru: ever active & keen); II, 40=It. 40 (id. with appamāda-rato); Sn. 822.—2. Steps and Means to N. : nibbāna-sacchikiriyā, attainment of N. , is maṅgalaṃ uttamaṃ & to be achieved by means of tapo, brahmacariyā and ariyasaccāna-dassanaṃ Sn. 267.—brahmacariya (a saintly life) is n. -parāyanā (leading to N.) S. III, 189, cp. V, 218; also called n. -ogadhā (with similar states of mind, as nibbidā, virāgo, vimutti) ibid.; A. II, 26=It. 28, cp. It. 29 (nibbān’—ogadha-gāminaṃ b°ṃ). The stages of sanctification are also discussed under the formula “nibbidā virāgo vimutti . . . vimuttasmiṃ vimuttaṃ iti ñāṇaṃ hoti: khīṇā jāti etc. ” (i.e. no more possibility of birth) S. II, 124=IV. 86. ‹-› dhamma: Buddha’s teaching as the way to N. : “dhammavaraṃ adesayi n. -gāmiṃ paramaṃ hitāya” Sn. 233; ahaṃ sāvakānaṃ dhammaṃ desemi sattānaṃ visuddhiyā ... n°assa sacchikiriyāya A. V, 194, cp. 141; pubbe dh. -ṭhiti-ñāṇaṃ pacchā nibbāne ñāṇan ti S. II, 124.—magga: Those practices of a moral & good life embraced in the 8 fold Noble Path (ariyamagga). Sace atthi akammena koci kvaci na jīyati nibbānassa hi so maggo S. I, 217; ekāyano ayaṃ maggo sattānaṃ visuddhiyā ... N°assa sacchikiriyāya D. II, 290; S. V, 167, 185; bhāvayitvā sucimaggaṃ n° —ogadha-gāminaṃ ... Vbh. 426; ādimhi sīlaṃ dasseyya, majjhe maggaṃ vibhāvaye, pariyosānamhi nibbānaṃ ... DA. I, 176.—N. —gamanaṃ maggaṃ: tattha me nirato mano “my heart rejoices in the path to Nibbāna” S. I, 186; N. —gāminī paṭipadā A. IV, 83 (the path to salvation). Cp. §§ 4 & 7.—3. The Search for N. or the goal of earnest endeavour. ārogya-paramā lābhā nibbānaṃ paramaṃ sukhaṃ, aṭṭhaṅgiko ca maggānaṃ khemaṃ amata-gāminaṃ “N. is a higher bliss than acquisition of perfect health, the eightfold Path (alone) of all leads to perfect peace, to ambrosia” M. I, 508, cp. Dh. 204 (“the fullest gain is for health etc.; N. is the highest happiness” DhA. III, 267). Similarly: khantī paramaṃ tapo titikkhā, n°ṃ paramaṃ vadanti buddhā D. II, 49=Dh. 184; n°ṃ paramaṃ sukhaṃ: Dh. 204=Sn. 257=J. III, 195; id. : Dh. 203; jhānaṃ upasampajja ... okkamanāya n. °assa A. IV, 111 sq.; cp. 230 sq.; kaṭuviyakato bhikkhu ... ārakā hoti N°ā A. I, 281; n°ṃ ajjhagamuṃ sapaññā S. I, 22; devalokañ ca te yanti ... anupubbena n°ṃ adhigacchanti paṇḍitā A. I, 162; n°ṃ abhikaṅkhati S. I, 198; abhipassati A. I, 147; tiṇṇakathaṅkatho visallo n. —âbhirato Sn. 86; bhikkhu bhabbo anuttaraṃ sītibhāvaṃ sacchikātuṃ ... paṇītâdhimutto hoti ṇ-âbhirato ca A. III, 435; n. —âbhirato ... sabbadukkhā pamuccati S. I, 38; n. —ogadhaṃ brahmacariyaṃ vussati n. —parāyaṇaṃ n. —pariyosānaṃ S. III, 189=V. 218; n°ṃ gavesanto carāmi (Bodhisat, J. I, 61). All means of conduct & all ideals of reason & intellect lead to one end only: Nibbāna. This is frequently expressed by var. similes in the phrase n. —ninna, °poṇa, °pabbhāra, e.g. S. V, 75=134=137=190; V, 244; A. V, 75, 134, 190, 244= 291; Vv 8442. Saddahāno arahataṃ dhammaṃ n. ‹-› pattiyā sussūsā labhate paññaṃ appamatto S. I, 214= Sn. 186, cp. S. I, 48; Gotamo n. —paṭisaṃyuttāya dhammiyā kathāya bhikkhū sandasseti S. I, 214=192=210; Ud. 80; n°ṃ pariyesati A. II, 247; n. —pariyosānā sabbe dhammā A. V, 107; n. -poṇaṃ me mānasaṃ bhavissati, saṃyojanā pahāṇaṃ gacchanti A. III, 443; odhunitvā malaṃ sabbaṃ patvā n. —sampadaṃ muccati sabba-dukkhehi: sā hoti sabbasampadā A. IV, 239; nibbijjha sabbaso kāme sikkhe n°ṃ attano Sn. 940, cp. 1061.—4. Some Epithets of Nibbāna: akutobhayaṃ A. II, 24=It. 122; accutaṃ padaṃ (careyya āditta-sīso va patthayaṃ a. p.) S. III, 143; Sn. 1086; pattā te acalaṭṭhānaṃ yattha gantvā na socare Vv 514; amataṃ A. II, 247; M. III, 224 (Bhagavā atthassa ninnetā a °assa dātā); Miln. 319; Vv 6427 (apāpuranto a °assa dvāraṃ); VvA. 85 (a-rasa); Vv 5020 (amatogadha magga=nibb°-gāminī paṭipadā); amosadhammaṃ Sn. 758; khemaṃ appaṭibhayaṃ S. IV, 175; S. I, 189=Sn. 454; Th. 2, 350 (°ṭṭhāne vimuttā te patta te acalaṃ sukhaṃ); M. I, 508 (+amatagāminaṃ); A. II, 247 (yogakkhemaṃ anuttaraṃ); same at A. III, 294; It. 27; Dh. 23.—taṇhakkhaya Vv 735; ṭhānaṃ dud- dasaṃ S. I, 136 (=sabba-saṅkhāra-samatho); dhuvaṃ (q. v.); niccaṃ Kvu 121; nekkhammaṃ A. I, 147 (°ṃ daṭṭhu khemato ... nibbānaṃ abhipassanto); Vv 8442. sabba-gantha-pamocanaṃ (deliverance from all ties) S. I, 210; II, 278 (sabbadukkha°); It. 222=A. II, 24; yathābhūtaṃ vacanaṃ S. IV, 195; yathāsukhaṃ (the Auspicious) A. IV, 415 sq.; (chanda-) rāga vinodanaṃ Sn. 1086; rāgakkhayo (dosa°, moha°) S. V, 8; rāgavinayo (dosa°, moha°) ibid. , santi (calm, peace) Vv 5021=Sn. 204 (chandarāga-viratto bhikkhu paññāṇavā ajjhagā amataṃ santiṃ nibbānapadaṃ accutaṃ); VvA. 219 (=acala); santimaggaṃ eva brūhaya n°ṃ Sugatena desitaṃ Dh. 285=Nett 36; sandiṭṭhikaṃ akālikaṃ etc.; A. I, 158; samo bhūmibhāgo ramaṇīyo S. III, 109; sassataṃ Kvu 34; suvatthi Sn. 235.—5. N. is realisable in this world, i.e. in this life if it is mature (diṭṭhe va dhamme): S. II, 18=115=III, 163=IV. 141 (diṭṭha-dh-npatta); M. II, 228; A. IV, 353=358, cp. 454.—6. Definitions with regard to the destruction of the causes or substrata of life (cp. above I.): taṇhāya vippahānena n°ṃ iti vuccati S. I, 39=Sn. 1109; as sabba-saṅkhārasamatho (calming down of all vital elements) Vin. I, 5; S. I, 136; A. II, 118=III, 164; IV, 423; V, 8, 110, 320, 354; akiñcanaṃ anādānaṃ etaṃ dīpaṃ anāparaṃ n°ṃ iti nam brūmi jarāmaccu-parikkhayaṃ Sn. 1094; bhavanirodho n°ṃ ti S. II, 117; A. V, 9; rāga-kkhayo (dosa°, moha°) S. IV, 251=261; virāgo nirodho n°ṃ in typical & very frequent exposition at Nd2=S. I, 136≈. See also vana & cp. the foll. : taṇhā-saṅkhāta-vānâbhāvato n°ṃ SnA 253; nikkhantaṃ vānato ti n°ṃ KhA 151; kilesa-n° ass’âpi anupādā parinibbānass’âpi santike yeva DhA. I, 286 (on Dh. 32).—7. N. as perfect wisdom and what is conducive to such a state (saṃvattati). The foll. phrase is one of the oldest stereotype phrases in the Canon & very frequent; it is used of all the highest means & attainments of conduct & meditation & may be said to mark the goal of perfect understanding & a perfect philosophy of life. It is given in 2 variations, viz. in a simple form as “upasamāya abhiññāya sambodhāya nibbānāya saṃvattati, with ref. to majjhimā paṭipadā at Vin. I, 10=S. IV, 331=V. 421; of satta bojjhaṅgā at S. V, 80; and in a fuller form as “ekanta-nibbidāya virāgāya nirodhāya upasamāya etc. as above” at D. I, 189 (negative); II, 251 (of brahmacariyaṃ), 285; III, 130 (sukhallikânuyogā, neg.) 136 (avyākataṃ, neg.); S. II, 223 (brahmacariya); V, 82 (satta bojjhaṅgā), 179 (satipaṭṭhānā), 255 (iddhipādā), 361 (ariyamagga), 438 A. III, 83, 326 sq.; etc.—Cp. n-saṃvattanika S. V, 97 (upekhāsambojjhaṅga); Nd2 281 (neg. of tamo). ‹-› 8. N. as the opposite of rāga (passion, lust). frequent is the combination of virāga nirodha nibbāna, almost used as three synonyms, thus at S. II, 18; Vin. III, 20=111; A. II, 118=III, 164=IV. 423=V. 8=Nd2 under Nibbāna; A. II, 34=It. 88 (dhammānaṃ aggaṃ akkhāyati, madanimmadano pipāsa-vinayo ālaya-samugghāto vaṭṭûpacchedo taṇhakkhayo virāgo nirodha nibbānaṃ), cp. Vin. III, 20≈. Similarly S. I, 192 (Sugataṃ payirupāsati desentaṃ virajaṃ dhammaṃ nibbānaṃ akutobhayaṃ). ‹-› 9. Various Characterisations & Similes (cp. above II. A 4 & 5). sukkâbhijātiko samāno akaṇhaṃ asukkaṃ n°ṃ abhijayati D. III, 251; A. III, 384 sq.; aniccā sabbe saṅkhārā dukkhā ‘nattā ca saṅkhātā: nibbānañ c’eva paññatti anattā iti nicchayā Vin. V, 86. On anicca & anattā in rel. to N. see also S. IV, 133 sq.; A. IV, 353; dukkhato & sukhato n°ṃ samanupassati A. III, 442. On comparison with a lamp see e.g. S. I, 159=D. II, 157= Th. 1, 906 (pajjotass’eva nibbānaṃ vimokkho cetaso ahū), A. IV, 3 (pajjotass’eva n. vimokkho hoti cetaso); Sn. 235 (... te khīṇabījā avirūḷhichandā nibbanti dhīrā yathâyaṃ padīpo).

— or —

Nibbana, (adj.) 1. (Sk. nirvana) without forest, woodless J. II, 358.—2. (an abstr. fr. nibbāna, see nibbāna I.; cp. vana2. frequent nibbāna as v. l. instead of nibbana) without cravings Sn. 1131 (nikkāmo nibbano); Dh. 283 (nibbanā pl.) Vv 5014 (better reading nibbāna, in phrase “vanā nibbānaṃ āgataṃ, ” as found at A. III, 346= Th. 1, 691, although the latter has nibbanaṃ in text), explained by “nittaṇhabhāvaṃ nibbānam eva upagataṃ” VvA. 213. (Page 362)

Pali book cover
context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Discover the meaning of nibbana in the context of Pali from relevant books on Exotic India

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Nibbaṇa (ನಿಬ್ಬಣ):—

1) [noun] a person whom hospitality is or is to be exended by another; a guest.

2) [noun] the procession of a marriage party.

3) [noun] the assembled persons belonging to either the bride or the groom in a marriage.

4) [noun] a present, gift given to a bride or groom.

5) [noun] a formal, elaborate meal; a feast.

6) [noun] an invitation to dinner.

--- OR ---

Nibbāṇa (ನಿಬ್ಬಾಣ):—

1) [noun] the state of the soul being free from the cycle of births and deaths; solvation; emancipation.

2) [noun] the end; conclusion; finis.

--- OR ---

Nibbāna (ನಿಬ್ಬಾನ):—[noun] = ನಿಬ್ಬಾಣ [nibbana].

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Discover the meaning of nibbana in the context of Kannada from relevant books on Exotic India

See also (Relevant definitions)

Relevant text

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: