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View submission: Is nirvana a permanent state?
thank you. just for my own understanding, i am seeing a few comments here from others as well that seem to distinguish between nirvana and enlightenment.
to your knowledge, is there such a distinction in mahayana traditions?
Comment by GrampaMoses at 23/02/2025 at 16:16 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I can't recall any teachings I've received that give a clear definition of either term.
Based on context and how they're used, nirvana is sometimes used interchangeably with "great bliss." Perhaps a connection to the 4 immeasurables? Perhaps similar to the jhanas? I'm not sure. But it is often used as the dualistic opposite of samsara. Like hot and cold.
Enlightenment has been described to me as having different levels. At the very basic level, enlightenment is the recognition of pure Rigpa with no thoughts or emotions clouding our view. Or it is the recognition that our own mind is Buddha's mind.
This first level, or the seed of enlightenment is planted, and we must nurture it with practice. At this level we may experience bliss while in deep meditation, but then return to the deluded mind while grocery shopping, working, driving in traffic. We may still have self grasping that causes negative emotions to arise.
At a higher level, our deluded mind becomes purified to the point where there is no difference between deep meditative states and walking around in our daily life. There is no meditation and post meditation. Self grasping becomes weaker and thus the root of our negative emotions is removed and they no longer arise.
This is beyond my experience and just what I remember of my teachers words, so I apologise for any inaccuracies.