Nirvana
Enlightenment is beyond words.
Nevertheless, people do need to know something about it in order to move towards it!
Traditionally, Enlightenment is described in four ways; negatively, positively, paradoxically and symbolically.
Negatively, as Cessation.
An Enlightened being is free of the unhealthy mental states of greed, hatred and ignorance. These are sometimes known as the three poisons or the three fires. Nirvana is known as the extinguishing of these fires.
(Nirvana = blowing out)
Positively, in terms of the characteristics
of an Enlightened being, which are:-
- supreme bliss
- profound wisdom (seeing into the nature of reality)
- infinite compassion
(springing from a love for all life)
- a radiant, unlimited consciousness
- boundless energy
Paradoxically
The Mahayana texts (from the second great phase in Buddhist thought) employ paradox to describe Enlightenment in order to emphasise that it is beyond words and concepts.
e.g. a Buddha abides in a state of non-abiding...or
Nirvana is attained by means of non-attainment...
Symbolically
Enlightenment is also represented through metaphor, poetic description, or symbol.
e.g.
- the Cool Cave
- the Island in the Flood
- the Further Shore
- the Holy City
- there are elaborate Mahayana accounts of the happy land or the Pure Land
- the stupa, and symbolic images of the
Buddha and other Enlightened beings