The Three Nirvanas
“Calming
of all conditioned things, giving up of all defilements, extinction of
‘thirst’, detachment, cessation, Nibbana.” That’s what ends dukkha,
i.e. life’s unpleasantness, so the Buddha. “The
cessation of continuity and becoming (hence of unpleasant turbulence, my
insertion) is Nibbana.” Calmness –
non turbulence – happens in three ways: Nirvana 1:
Parinirvana @ whole action (hence whole entity) cessation Nirvana 2:
Nirvana @ non-action or non-response Nirvana 3:
Nirvana @ full (i.e. samma-sam) attainment of action The above
wavelet describes one life cycle (i.e. one transient existence, action or
phase of becoming/ending). Nirvana 1
happens before the wavelet arises and after it subsides. Nirvana 2
happens when there is no response to the wavelet’s action. Nirvana 3
happens at the wavelet’s (i.e. either) peak i.e. when (wave) action (or
passion) is ended, exhausted. This happens if and when an individual achieves
full or perfect functioning, i.e. goal attainment (to wit: samma-sam(bodhi)),
in other words, just after a peak experience. Nirvana
1 (i.e.
parinirvana) happens at wavelet collapse (death). It collapses when inner
turbulence (i.e. Samsara) is ended. Since a person (or any thing) happens
(i.e. arises or emerges) as whole after-affect of a wavelet, in other words,
since a person (or any thing) is a wavelet (i.e. the whole affect of
a wave (of conditions) interference pattern dependent on its constituent
wavelets, hence empty of own existence, so the Buddha), he or she disappears
(i.e. ends) together with/as the collapsing wavelet. @ total wavelet
collapse, absolute calmness returns but without a person (to enjoy it). This
Nirvana cannot be experienced. Nirvana
2 is the calm
that results from taking no position (within Samsara), that is to say, by not
responding. It happens either as voluntary wavelet collapse, that is to say,
when self-generated turbulence, to wit, the asavas (or ‘intoxicants’, in
fact, the drivers of life) is (or are) ended or by taking the Middle, indeed
ZERO Way of non action. The calm that results from non-response or non action
is a relative calm. There are n relative Nirvana 2’s. The Buddhist saint,
having shut down the drivers of life, is virtually dead (to the world, i.e.
displaying extreme apathy) though still in the body. This Nirvana (i.e. as
relief) can be experienced as simple bliss. Nirvana
3 is the calm
that follows upon goal achievement. It happens as aftermath of perfection
(i.e. samma-sam) ≈ fulfilment (for
instance, if one or more elements of the Noble 8-fold Path is (are) perfected
or the Mahayana ‘perfections’ are attained). This Nirvana is relative; there
are n such Nirvanas. This Calmness can be experienced as rapturous joy. Nirvana index
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