Nirvana is not a place, a state, or a heaven, it is not a
conditional phenomena where laws of physics apply. But neither is
it a post-mortem thing - nirvana can be attained in this body, in
this life.
Nirvana is simply the termination, the cessation, of passion,
aggression and delusion.
"And this, monks, is the noble truth of the cessation of stress:
the remainderless fading & cessation, renunciation,
relinquishment, release, & letting go of that very craving." ~
Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta
Pleasure is the
binding force in the world.
Rolling thought processes are its ever changing base.
With the complete eradication of craving,
The state called nibbana is attained.
-- Samyutta-nikaya I, Nal. 37, PTS 39; Suttanipata verse 134,
Nal. 436, PTS 202.
"This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all
fabrications, the relinquishment of all acquisitions, the ending of
craving; dispassion; cessation; Nibbana."
— AN 3.32
SN 43 Asaṅkhata Saṃyutta (1-44 combined & abridged):
And what, monks, is the not-fabricated (asaṅkhata)? The elimination
of passion, the elimination of aggression, the elimination of
delusion: this is called the not-fabricated.
And what, monks, is the not-inclined (anata)? The elimination of
passion, the elimination of aggression, the elimination of
delusion: this is called the not-inclined.
And what, monks, is the outflowless (anāsava)? The elimination of
passion, the elimination of aggression, the elimination of
delusion: this is called the outflowless.
And what, monks, is the truth (sacca)? The elimination of passion,
the elimination of aggression, the elimination of delusion: this is
called the truth.
And what, monks, is the farther shore (pāra)? The elimination of
passion, the elimination of aggression, the elimination of
delusion: this is called the farther shore.
And what, monks, is the subtle (nipuṇa)? The elimination of
passion, the elimination of aggression, the elimination of
delusion: this is called the subtle.
And what, monks, is the very hard to see (sududdasa)? The
elimination of passion, the elimination of aggression, the
elimination of delusion: this is called the very hard to see.
And what, monks, is the unaging (ajajjara)? The elimination of
passion, the elimination of aggression, the elimination of
delusion: this is called the unaging.
And what, monks, is the stable (dhuva)? The elimination of passion,
the elimination of aggression, the elimination of delusion: this is
called the stable.
And what, monks, is the undisintegrating (apalokita)? The
elimination of passion, the elimination of aggression, the
elimination of delusion: this is called the undisintegrating.
And what, monks, is the non-indicative (anidassana)? The
elimination of passion, the elimination of aggression, the
elimination of delusion: this is called the non-indicative.
And what, monks, is the unproliferated (nippapañca)? The
elimination of passion, the elimination of aggression, the
elimination of delusion: this is called the unproliferated.
And what, monks, is the peaceful (santa)? The elimination of
passion, the elimination of aggression, the elimination of
delusion: this is called the peaceful.
And what, monks, is the death-free (amata)? The elimination of
passion, the elimination of aggression, the elimination of
delusion: this is called the death-free.
And what, monks, is the sublime (paṇīta)? The elimination of
passion, the elimination of aggression, the elimination of
delusion: this is called the sublime.
And what, monks, is the auspicious (siva)? The elimination of
passion, the elimination of aggression, the elimination of
delusion: this is called the auspicious.
And what, monks, is the secure (khema)? The elimination of passion,
the elimination of aggression, the elimination of delusion: this is
called the secure.
And what, monks, is the elimination of craving (taṇhākkhaya)? The
elimination of passion, the elimination of aggression, the
elimination of delusion: this is called the elimination of
craving.
And what, monks, is the wonderful (acchariya)? The elimination of
passion, the elimination of aggression, the elimination of
delusion: this is called the wonderful.
And what, monks, is the amazing (abbhuta)? The elimination of
passion, the elimination of aggression, the elimination of
delusion: this is called the amazing.
And what, monks, is the calamity-free (anītika)? The elimination of
passion, the elimination of aggression, the elimination of
delusion: this is called the calamity-free.
And what, monks, is the dhamma free of calamity (anītikadhamma)?
The elimination of passion, the elimination of aggression, the
elimination of delusion: this is called the dhamma free of
calamity.
And what, monks, is extinguishment (nibbāna)? The elimination of
passion, the elimination of aggression, the elimination of
delusion: this is called extinguishment.
And what, monks, is the unafflicted (abyāpajjha)? The elimination
of passion, the elimination of aggression, the elimination of
delusion: this is called the unafflicted.
And what, monks, is dispassion (virāga)? The elimination of
passion, the elimination of aggression, the elimination of
delusion: this is called dispassion.
And what, monks, is purity (suddhi)? The elimination of passion,
the elimination of aggression, the elimination of delusion: this is
called purity.
And what, monks, is freedom (mutti)? The elimination of passion,
the elimination of aggression, the elimination of delusion: this is
called freedom.
And what, monks, is the unadhesive (anālaya)? The elimination of
passion, the elimination of aggression, the elimination of
delusion: this is called the unadhesive.
And what, monks, is the island (dīpa)? The elimination of passion,
the elimination of aggression, the elimination of delusion: this is
called the island.
And what, monks, is the cave (leṇa)? The elimination of passion,
the elimination of aggression, the elimination of delusion: this is
called the cave.
And what, monks, is the shelter (tāṇa)? The elimination of passion,
the elimination of aggression, the elimination of delusion: this is
called the shelter.
And what, monks, is the refuge (saraṇa)? The elimination of
passion, the elimination of aggression, the elimination of
delusion: this is called the refuge.
And what, monks, is the destination (parāyana)? The elimination of
passion, the elimination of aggression, the elimination of
delusion: this is called the destination.
