noun
nirvana
neer-VAH-nuh/nɪrˈvɑːnə/
Liberation from suffering and rebirth in Buddhism.
Buddhists seek nirvana through a path of wisdom and ethical living.
Etymology
‘Out’ and ‘blow’ evoke a fire going out, an image of extinction or release rather than ordinary pleasure. The religious sense of liberation later broadened figuratively to perfect bliss.
In context
Shantim nirvana paramam. The eternal, the ultimate peace of nirvana becomes their possession
More examples
- The teacher explains nirvana as liberation, not simply a pleasant feeling.
- In Buddhist teaching, craving stands in the way of nirvana.
- The class studies how different Buddhist traditions describe nirvana.
Similar words
- liberation
- Liberation means freedom generally; nirvana specifically ends suffering and rebirth.