The Goals
In this part of the course we examine what Buddhists
believe about how human life could be.
We’ve learned about
what Kamma is and
how it is through
building up good
Kamma we can get
closer to being truly
happy.
But what is the Buddhist idea of happiness?
Activity
Draw a picture of a place that you have been that you
really loved. Somewhere that you would go back to if you
could. Somewhere that makes you feel happy when you
think about it.
You don’t have to be a good drawer and it doesn’t have
to be too detailed, just try and make it resemble the
image in your mind.
DO NOT let anyone in the room see your drawing!!
Time: 5 Minutes
Activity
Pair up with someone else in the room. DO NOT let them
see your picture. Everyone will be given a blank piece of
paper.
Sit back to back with your partner. You must describe
your picture to the other person who must then try and
draw the picture from your verbal description only.
Again, DON’T LET THEM SEE YOUR PICTURE!!
Both people should attempt to draw the other’s picture.
Time: 5 Minutes
So did the picture drawn using the description look
anything like the original?
Hopefully you can see how
difficult it is to visualise
what a place is like from
just a description.
This is similar to the
problem with describing
the Buddhist idea of
Nibbana/Nirvana.
Nibbana is hard to describe because it is an experience
that words cannot describe. It is not a place but a state of
mind.
You just don’t
get it, do you?
A Buddhist fable where a turtle tries to explain to a fish
what dry land is like is used to show how Nibbana must be
experienced to be fully understood. The fish asks if dry
land is like anything he has experienced and when the
turtle tells him that it is not, the fish doubts if dry land
exists.
So What Is Nibbana Then?
In the Buddhist Scriptures, in the Questions of King
Milinda (the Greek king of the second century), 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.
So What Is Nibbana Then?
Nibbana is the stopping of the cycle of Samsara and
putting an end to suffering. There is no more
attachment to worldly things or anything impermanent.
When a person achieves Nibbana they still lead a human
life.
They experience physical pain just like everyone
else. They are however free from mental pain and
confusion.
They see reality, the world, the way it really is, as
impermanent, and therefore they can cope better with
physical pain.
They achieve enlightenment, which is the answer to all
of life’s questions
So What Is Nibbana Then?
• It is an experience beyond words, so is often
described by what it is not, rather than what it is.
• It is not a physical place but a state of mind.
• It has no beginning or end.
• It extinguishes the flames of greed, hatred and
ignorance.
• Cannot be physically seen or touched you can only
experience it!
• It is not made or produced, it can only be
experienced by someone through his/her own
personal efforts.
Nibbana – The Third Noble Truth
The third noble truth is: You can cease
all suffering by stopping all desiring. Now
leave me alone, I’m trying to sleep.
Once you’ve achieved
this, you have attained
Nibbana.
Remember, if you cling
to the idea of Nibbana
and crave it then you
will never achieve
it...you must cultivate
non-attachment!
Non-Attachment
What’s important is to rid yourself
of all your attachments. If there
is anything that you still have a
Tanha for you will not attain
Nibbana.
This is you. Draw this picture and attach as
many things as possible that YOU are
attached to that would stop you attaining
Nibbana
Once you have gotten rid of your Tanha for all
these things, you will be a Buddha, an
enlightened one. You will have attained Nibbana.
However there are different types of
Buddhism and each type has a different
understanding of how to rid yourself of all
Tanha. This is what we are going to look at
next.
Questions:
1. Why do you think Nibbana is difficult to describe?
2. What metaphors are used to describe Nibbana?
Describe one of them in details.
3. Do you think the analogies are useful? Explain your
view.
4. Explain 3 differences between the Buddhist idea of
Nibbana and the Christian idea of heaven.
5. Which were the main events in the Buddha’s life which
led to his enlightenment?
6. “Most people would find Nibbana difficult to achieve”
How far do you agree with this? Explain.
7. Do you think you have to be religious to believe in
Nibbana? Explain your answer.
Written Answer
What analogies are used
to describe Nibbana? Do
you think they are
effective? 4 AE