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parinirvana

Parinirvana, from Sanskrit parinirvāṇa and Pali parinibbāna, is a Buddhist term that denotes the final Nirvana that occurs upon the death of a person who has already achieved awakening. It signifies the complete, permanent release from samsara—the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth—and the cessation of all defilements and cravings. Parinirvana is most closely associated with the historical Buddha’s passing, described in early texts as the Buddha’s death at Kusinārā and the cremation of his body, after which his teaching remains.

In Theravada Buddhism, parinirvana refers to the ultimate, final release that follows the Buddha’s death; there

Across other Buddhist traditions, including Mahayana and Vajrayana, parinirvana is likewise understood as the final release

Parinirvana is typically described as transcending ordinary language and conceptual limits, signaling a definitive end to

is
no
further
rebirth.
It
is
distinguished
from
Nirvana
experienced
by
a
liberated
person
while
alive,
which
is
the
cessation
of
craving
and
suffering
within
the
ongoing
process
of
life,
yet
not
the
complete
end
of
conditioned
existence.
at
death.
These
traditions
often
emphasize
that
Buddhas
and
highly
realized
beings
remain
engaged
with
beings
through
various
means
(such
as
Dharmic
presence
or
skillful
activity)
even
as
they
enter
parinirvana.
Nonetheless,
parinirvana
remains
the
term
for
the
extinction
of
an
individual’s
conditioned
existence
at
the
end
of
the
enlightened
life.
rebirth
and
the
end
of
personal
suffering
for
the
liberated
individual.
It
is
viewed
as
the
culmination
of
the
path
begun
with
awakening
and
practiced
through
the
remainder
of
life.