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Buddhism. The Goals: Nibbana. We all have goals, what are yours?. Short term goals Medium term goals Long term goals Ultimate goals. The Ultimate goal for all Buddhists is. NIBBANA. Nibbana. Nibbana literally means “blown out”. Also known as enlightenment or sometimes liberation.
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Buddhism The Goals: Nibbana
We all have goals, what are yours? • Short term goals • Medium term goals • Long term goals • Ultimate goals
Nibbana • Nibbanaliterally means “blown out”. • Also known as enlightenment or sometimes liberation. • Nibbanais the cessation of suffering.
Therevada • Enlightenment is a personal goal • Theravadans are seeking their own personal enlightenment • Only monks can reach enlightenment
Mahayana • Enlightenment is a goal for all sentient beings • Mahayanists are seeking the enlightenment of all sentient beings • Everyone can reach enlightenment
Nibbana • Nibbana is the cessation of all suffering, greed hatred, ignorance and sense of self • It is a state of mind which can be reached during a person’s lifetime
Nibbana • Nibbana is NOT a place! • It is almost impossible to describe, so can only be experienced • Like trying to explain dry land to a fish • We should be able to see the effects of enlightenment on anyone who has achieved it
Nibbana • The Buddha explained it by saying: • It is like having carried a heavy load your whole life and then suddenly having that taken away • Or like being a slave your whole life and being set free
Nibbana • In the Questions of King Milinda, Nagasena explains to the King, that Nibbana can only be fully understood by experiencing the state yourself. Nagasena compares Nibbana to the wind. It cannot be seen or touched but it can be experienced and you can see the effects that it has on those who experience it.
Parinibbana • Death with no remainder • The enlightened person dies and does not re-enter samsara. • This is the ultimate goal for Theravada Buddhists.
Questions • Describe a Buddhist understanding of nibbana 4KU