Robert Thurman: Peace Video #1

Bob asks, "What is nirvana?" He then explains how it is the ultimate, real state of our existence and how we can develop a peace within ourselves that absorbs stress.
Recorded at Menla Mountain Retreat Center, October 2006.

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• bob
• thurman
• buddha
• buddhism
• peace
• menla
• meditation
• dharma

[cambell1308]

that's jerry springer....hehe

[steveshiatsu]

The camera is focussed on the background so it makes bob look like a hologram :-)

[rockmt1911]

Tai Situ Rinpoche said Samasara is like a wheel, getting closer to Nirvana meant the wheel gets larger(not spinning off or getting smaller)! Gradually, it becomes more and more difficult to make a full cirlce in Samsara, until the wheel becomes all encompassing.

Before, I always thought Nirvana is spinning off the wheel, shrinking of the wheel, or disappearing of the wheel.

Anyways, it wouldn't sound right from my defiled mouth.

[yuttadhammo]

Nirvana literally means the "un- (nir) binding (vaana)". If you want the closest, most literal catchphrase definition, Nirvana is freedom from suffering. What could be higher than that?

[BarbarraBay]

Nirvana is not a state of bliss, although it is blissful. Nirvana is best described as a state of 'dispassion', when one sees clearly the impermanence, unsatisactoriness and selflessness of all things.

The Samyutta Nikaya: Division 12: Chapter 16 states:

'If through revulsion towards ignorance, through its fading away and cessation, one is liberated by non-clinging, one is fit to be called one who has attained Nibbana in this very life.'

[BarbarraBay]

The Samyutta Nikaya: Division 38: Chapter 1 states:

'What now is Nibbana? The destruction of lust, the destruction of hatred, the destruction of delusion: this friend is called Nibbana'.

The Samyutta Nikaya: Division 45: Chapter 7 states:

'The removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion is the designation for the element of Nibbana.... is the Deathless. The destruction of the taints is spoken of in that way'.

[saberwok]

Respectfully, your statement seems to contradict what Bob stated: Nirvana is not a destination.

[thealchemist78posts]

I think Nirvana is definately a very high and blissful state but I do not think it is the ultimate enlightenment. There are worlds even beyond Nirvana ... although I sure would to enter the world of nirvana asap! ;)