By realising the nature of Impermanence, Suffering, No-Self and
the Emptiness of all phenomena, we immediately realise the Eternal,
Bliss, the Self, and the Purity of Nirvana.
A longer list of attributes to Nirvana: "The attributes of Nirvana
are eightfold. What are these eight? Cessation (nirodha),
loveliness/wholesomeness (subha), Truth (satya), Reality (tattva),
eternity (nitya), bliss (sukha), the Self (atman), and complete
purity (parisuddhi): that is Nirvana."-- Mahaparinirvana
Sutra
'Self' here does not mean an unchanging Self amidst changes, but
more like the 'true nature of the self' that is not any phenomena
and yet not separate from all phenomena. Eternity/Permanence is
what Thusness is saying -- happening without movement,
timeless.
But don't think samsara and nirvana are separate, all phenomena are
actually already empty, unborn, and already in Nirvana. Nirvana is
only samsara rightly seen.
The Bliss of Nirvana is the bliss of Clarity. It is not ordinary
joy. As a matter of fact, joy can never be found in Samsara at all.
Even the highest heaven is of the nature of Dukkha -- Suffering. It
is a dharma seal. That's just the nature of Samsara, suffering all
the way. Only in Nirvana can we find Bliss.
Since I have not attained Nirvana I can only quote others who are
experienced:
Further, in some strange way even
the worst of the world has an aspect of deliciousness in it, a
richness of texture that can be deeply enjoyed, and a mysterious
and sometimes awe-inspiring glory mixed into it, inherent in it.
The happiness, peace and fullness of life they were looking for was
permeating all the sensations without exception that had made up
their world all along! What staggering irony this is, and what a
silent joy it is to discover this at last. This is what is meant by
the bliss of Nirvana. It is a more subtle understanding than the
nirmanakaya and in some largely mysterious way does not contradict
it.
-- Dharma Dan
------------------------------
January 2005, after sharing some of my intense bliss experiences
like super intensive waves of bliss pervading the entire body
arising out of absorption (i.e jhana) with Thusness:
[15:30] <^john^> what is bliss like?
[15:31] dunnu how to describe 
[15:49] <^john^> bliss is complete clarity.
[15:50] complete clarity?
[15:50] <^john^> when u experience the luminosity without
boundary, joy will flow from all directions.
[15:50] <^john^> yes
[15:50] <^john^> 
[15:50] if bliss is complete clarity, then why do we experience
bliss without clarity also?
[15:50] <^john^> that is because it is not bliss.
[15:51] then what is it?
[15:51] joy that is not bliss?
[15:52] <^john^> it is just a mental state that is
created.
[15:53] icic...
[15:53] then is the bliss experienced through complete clarity, a
mentalk sstate?
[15:53] <^john^> Pure awareness is nothing of that
sort.
[15:53] <^john^> so how do we know?
[15:54] <^john^>
[15:54] bcos pure awareness is simply aware ?
[15:54] <^john^> and what is it like?
[15:55] like??
[15:55] dunnu
[15:55] <^john^> the greatest joy in absorption is?
[15:56] dunnu
[15:56] <^john^> forgetting the 'self'.
[15:56] oic...
[15:57] <^john^> when object and subject becomes one.
[15:57] <^john^> but then there is no clarity.
[15:57] <^john^> the luminosity isn't there.
[15:57] then what is the clarity?
[15:58] <^john^> it is the Total Presence, Reality.
[23:57] <^john^> when u draw nearer and nearer to pure
awareness, our true nature of emptiness, u will experience certain
form of joy and excitement.
[23:57] icic
[23:58] <^john^> pure awareness, clarity,
presence...etc
[23:58] <^john^> thoughts, self, ego...etc
[23:58] <^john^> when there is too strong of 'ego',
experience more suffering.
[23:58] <^john^> so is 'self'
[23:59] <^john^> when u experience everything as pure
awareness, there is complete blissfulness
[23:59] <^john^> everything arising becomes bliss.
