Nirvana in Theravada Perspective

Ven. Dhammapiya via Lichtenberg (holybooks.com), Amber Larson (ed.), Wisdom Quarterly

Nibbana in Theravada Perspective is an analytical text, a critical study of the Buddhist concept of nirvana (Pali nibbana) by Dr. Dhammapiya.

Nirvana literally means “blowing out” — referring to the blowing out of the fires of greed, hatred, and delusion. Theravada and other Buddhist traditions do not view nirvana solely as a state outside of the world. For it is a state to be attained here and now:

“The final state of nibbana is [absolute peace] not absolute cessation. As a matter of fact, the concept of nibbana has nothing to do with the view of annihilation technically, since nibbana practically exists as the unconditioned ultimate reality. One can reach the state of nibbana by means of practice because it exists unconditionally in the transcendental state.”

• Nibbana in Theravada Perspective (PDF, 216 pages)