Nibbana

Nibbāna (Pali) or Nirvāṇa (Sanskrit) is a central Buddhist term for the complete cessation of craving, hatred, and delusion and the end of the cycle of birth and death (samsāra). It is described as the unconditioned, deathless, and timeless state, beyond ordinary experience and conceptual elaboration. It is not conceived as a place or a further finite self; rather, it is the removal of the defilements that give rise to suffering.

In Theravāda traditions, Nibbāna is realized by following the Noble Eightfold Path: ethical conduct, mental training, and wisdom. It may be experienced as a profound peace in this life, and upon physical death the arhat or enlightened being enters parinibbāna, the final Nibbāna, with no further rebirth.

In Mahāyāna strands, Nirvāṇa is often discussed in relation to Samsāra, with emphasis on wisdom realizing emptiness (śūnyatā) and the possibility of attaining Buddhahood for all beings. Some schools teach that Nirvāṇa and Samsāra are not ultimately separate, while others emphasize the distinction between personal liberation and universal enlightenment.

Nibbāna is typically characterized by the cessation of craving, clinging, and aversion, and the ending of mental afflictions. It is regarded as the ultimate goal of Buddhist practice, offering a state of enduring peace rather than transient happiness.