The Goals In this part of the course we examine what Buddhists believe about how human life could be.

We’ve learned about what Kamma is and how it is through building up good Kamma we can get closer to being truly happy.

But what is the Buddhist idea of happiness?

Draw a picture of a place that you have been that you really loved. Somewhere that you would go back to if you could. Somewhere that makes you feel happy when you think about it.

You don’t have to be a good drawer and it doesn’t have to be too detailed, just try and make it resemble the image in your mind.

DO NOT let anyone in the room see your drawing!!

Activity

Time: 5 Minutes

Activity

Pair up with someone else in the room. DO NOTDO NOT let them see your picture. Everyone will be given a blank piece of paper.

Sit back to back with your partner. You must describe your picture to the other person who must then try and draw the picture from your verbal description only. Again, DON’T LET THEM SEE YOUR PICTURE!!

Both people should attempt to draw the other’s picture.Time: 5 Minutes

So did the picture drawn using the description look anything like the original?

Hopefully you can see how difficult it is to visualise what a place is like from just a description.

This is similar to the problem with describing the Buddhist idea of Nibbana/Nirvana.

Nibbana is hard to describe because it is an experience that words cannot describe. It is not a place but a state of mind.

A Buddhist fable where a turtle tries to explain to a fish what dry land is like is used to show how Nibbana must be experienced to be fully understood. The fish asks if dry land is like anything he has experienced and when the turtle tells him that it is not, the fish doubts if dry land exists.

You just don’t get it, do you?

So What Is Nibbana Then?So What Is Nibbana Then?

In the Buddhist Scriptures, in the Questions of King Milinda (the Greek king of the second century), Nagasena explains to the King that Nibbana can only be fully understood by experiencing the state yourself. Nagasena compares Nibbana to the wind. It cannot be seen or touched but it can be experienced and you can see the effects that it has on those who experience it.

So What Is Nibbana Then?So What Is Nibbana Then?

Nibbana is the stopping of the cycle of Samsara and putting an end to suffering. There is no more attachment to worldly things or anything impermanent. When a person achieves Nibbana they still lead a human life.

They experience physical pain just like everyone else. They are however free from mental pain and confusion.

They see reality, the world, the way it really is, as impermanent, and therefore they can cope better with physical pain.

They achieve enlightenment, which is the answer to all of life’s questions

So What Is Nibbana Then?So What Is Nibbana Then?

• It is an experience beyond words, so is often described by what it is not, rather than what it is.

• It is not a physical place but a state of mind.

• It has no beginning or end.

• It extinguishes the flames of greed, hatred and ignorance.

• Cannot be physically seen or touched you can only experience it!

• It is not made or produced, it can only be experienced by someone through his/her own personal efforts.

Nibbana – The Third Noble Truth

Once you’ve achieved this, you have attained Nibbana.

Remember, if you cling to the idea of Nibbana and crave it then you will never achieve it...you must cultivate non-attachment!

The third noble truth is: You can cease all suffering by stopping all desiring. Now leave me alone, I’m

trying to sleep.

What’s important is to rid yourself of all your

attachments. If there is anything that you still have a Tanha for you will not attain

Nibbana.

Non-AttachmentNon-Attachment

This is you. Draw this picture and attach as many things as possible that YOU are attached to that would stop you attaining Nibbana

Once you have gotten rid of your Tanha for all these things, you will be a Buddha,

an enlightened one. You will have attained Nibbana.

However there are different types of Buddhism and each type has a different understanding of how to rid yourself of all Tanha. This is what we are going to

look at next.

Questions:1. Why do you think Nibbana is difficult to describe?2. What metaphors are used to describe Nibbana? Describe

one of them in details.3. Do you think the analogies are useful? Explain your view.4. Explain 3 differences between the Buddhist idea of

Nibbana and the Christian idea of heaven.5. Which were the main events in the Buddha’s life which

led to his enlightenment?6. “Most people would find Nibbana difficult to achieve”

How far do you agree with this? Explain.7. Do you think you have to be religious to believe in

Nibbana? Explain your answer.

What analogies are used to describe

Nibbana? Do you think they are effective? 4

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Written Answer