What is Nirvana?

Nirvana, a Sanskrit word, is a simple idea. The attainment of nirvana, or nibbana, as it is spelled in Pali, is more complex. I will use both the Sanskrit and the Pali versions throughout this writing. The understanding of nibbana is not as complex as many would like us to believe. Although, those same folks, would argue this point, I'm sure. Anyway, please read on. It is the state of consciousness, and living attained once you are free from suffering. Or, another way of stating it, once you are no longer ignorant of the way life is. This state of being is also called enlightenment or awakening and sometimes called emptiness. The different traditions have different words for nirvana, usually derived from specific language. In Zen Buddhism it is known as Satori, the Japanese word for it.

The following is the Buddha's description and explanation. Nibbana is, as translated to English, 'extinguishing' or 'blowing out'. That's it!
Now, what was the Buddha extinguishing? He was extinguishing the three fires of greed, hatred and ignorance. Sometimes stated as greed, hatred and delusion. Or, greed, aversion, and ignorance. The term Three Fires is also known as Three Poisons. Anyway, you probably get the point. Right?
This is also where things get confusing. Why? Because people have an innate need to make all sorts of things mystical. This tiny little aspect of human nature complicates many, many beliefs, traditions and more that we humans aspire to. More on why this is later.
Okay, there will be people that will deny this. Not, so much, what the Buddha said. Or, what he believed and taught in this regard. They just don't want to believe that this is all awakening is. They want to believe it is something more than this.
People think, say and act along the lines of, 'it just has to be more complex.' That you have to personally meet some sort of evil, or misleading figure. And, defeat this entity. In the way the mythical Buddha story goes. Read here why people tend to mystifiy and mythologize others.
This is exactly what the Buddha taught about stopping. That is, overcoming this second way of thinking. Getting control of your mind and seeing things around you, in your culture and society as they really are. Understanding and awakening to the reality of your life and times.
How is this done? In the context of the following Buddha quote is a good place to start. In this way, with an open and enquiring mind, you can attain wisdom and awakening.
"Do not trust my words, the words you find in a book, or those of any teacher. Go out and experience for yourself."
-Buddha Shakyamuni
It is in this way that you will realize enlightenment and awakening. To attain this state of mind is to be free of craving, clinging and attachment. You must give up greed, hatred and delusion in all situations. This is why this state of being is so difficult to actually attain. This is also why it is said that enlightenment is attained in stages. Because is is hard to give up the aspects that comprise greed, hatred and delusion. If you don't think so, truly give it a go.
"Just as the great ocean has just one taste, the taste of salt, this dhamma (the teachings) has just one taste. The taste of freedom."
- Buddha Shakyamuni

True Nirvana

Sakyamuni Buddha taught that nibbana is a place that can be attained in the here and now. That is, it is not an outer worldly place. It is not of a mystical nature unless you consider the discovery of your true self mystical. In a sense this could be true. At first anyway. As you adjust to this realization you understand nibbana for what it is.
What exactly did Shakyamuni say nibbana is? He said it is the deathless state. The freedom from the three fires of greed, hatred, and delusion. These later came to be called the three poisons. The dissolving of these negative emotions clears the way for a state of 'no clinging, no grasping'. That is, once you dissolve or 'blow out' these fires you have released ignorance and what is left is that wonderful, but elusive state called nirvana.

Right View

Thankfully, the Buddha left a path for us to follow. A path that will lead us to the awakening of truth, or reality. A part of this path is the understanding of the way of right view. When you see things as they really are you have shed the various illusions of life. You have freed yourself from delusion. Seeing reality, though, is a lot more difficult then it would seem.
Seeing reality is what Sakyamuni did 2500 years ago. And, surprisingly, even though culture and society has changed, his realizations still stand true today. He understood what mattered and this is reality. What did he understand? He broke through the cultural limitations of his society and understood how life really is and what really matters. He understood the illusive state generated by our human minds that collectively become our culture, our way.

Illusion

In our modern world there is plenty of greed, hatred and delusion. It's everywhere in some shape of form. To break through, or clear these illusions an understanding of the four truths is required.
Being mindful also is required. When you slow your mind down enough to examine what is going on around you a sense of this is realized. When you move this sense inward to your own thoughts you will see the bombardment of thoughts within regarding this.
For some this is too much to handle. As a result they slip back into the world of illusion. They 'feel' safer there. For others, they begin the process of analytical examination of these thoughts. They simply let them flow no matter how overwhelming these thoughts seem. These folks take the steps required, that is, they begin the path to awakening.

Meditation

This practice of slowing your mind down is called mindfulness. The strengthening of your ability to be mindful is building mind power. Or, mind-clarity is a better way to say it. All of this is attained while sitting quietly and observing your thoughts. This is called meditation. You will not attain clarity after only one session. It will take many sessions.
Therefore, at first meditation will be difficult. It is like your body is rebelling. You will find it very difficult. You may even believe that you cannot meditate. This is another illusion. Actually, this process is quite remarkable. If you hang in there you will get a handle on these thoughts. They will lessen. You will begin to understand. You will begin the move towards nirvana.

The Shift To Nirvana

Nirvana is the entry into a different mode of existence through the Eightfold Path. This is easy to put into words, but harder to put into practice. This is why Shakyamuni explained that experience is the best way to know anything. He outlines how to achieve nirvana or nibbana through the Noble Eightfold Path. Nirvana is well explained as the true condition of the mind. The state of mind that is free from illusion of any sort and is able to know reality as it is.
When you understand what is important, what really matters, you begin the shift into the reality of nirvana. When you release the chains of greed, wanting, and desire the shift begins. When clinging to concepts and material things are released the shift begins. When you embody that grasping to the material world in the hopes of finding lasting satisfaction is fruitless the shift has begun.
Nirvana begins when you see that you are okay as you are without all the trickery that you attempt to deceive yourself and others with. That it is okay to smile at others, to witness beauty in all forms, and to appreciate the dead of winter as much as the aliveness of summer. When your shift of reality begins to recognize people for what they are, that is, often times, lonely, fearful, timid, shy, unknowing, lost, etc. That they do senseless things because of this then you have truly begun to experience nibbana.

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Attaining Nirvana

Letter That Helps Explain Nirvana

The Two Truths of Buddhism

The Three Poisons (also The Three Fires).END=OM MANI PADME HUM.( 3 TIMES ).RESEARCH TIBET BUDDHIST DHARMA BY VENERABLE GESHE TESERING TASHI.VIETNAMESE TIBET NUN.28/1/2012.