Have You Ever Met Anyone Who Has Attained Nirvana? Is it Even Possible?

[no-body]

But..... how would you know to say?

Subjective personal experience.

 

[DreadFish]

I feel like this debate is nothing more than a debate about the shape of a cloud as opposed to another cloud. Or maybe a raindrop that is definitively different than another raindrop. In fact, talking about the nature of a raindrop vs. another raindrop might be just as productive, lets do that.

I, for one, think that the first raindrop is the same as the other one because they are both water. Maybe the other raindrop has some smog residue in it or its a different shape or something.

What do you think?

Actually maybe neither are made of water... My bad

 

[Two-bit guru]

I think it isn't because some time has gone by between raindrops, unless they are falling side by side. Let's assume the former we know that everything changes with the passage of time, therefore there will be something different between the first and second raindrops.
Q.E.D.

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

I know a woman Hindu Saint, I believe that she has reached that level of being. She needs no sleep and she is so full of love for all beings. I have known her for years and I have never seen her act in a ego centered way. Sometimes I feel like there is as much difference between me and her as a Chimp and a Human.

She would never say she is enlightened. I even asked her once. She turned the question back on me. Why do you believe that you are not enlightened.

She is now old and at the end of her life. Her body is in pain and failing. Yet, this also seems like fun for Her. I once seen her complain about pain to somebody then I seen a glint in her eye. She then looked at me and said you caught my game and started to laugh. Even the demise of her body seems like a sport to her. She loves all and asks nothing of anybody.

 

[apophenia]

Ram Dass referred to an abidharma teaching which may be helpful here. According to this teaching, there are 17 trillion mind moments in the time it takes to blink your eye. Nirvana is defined as the space between mind moments. In other words, nirvana is the space-like aspect of mind in which events occur.
So nirvana is ever present, fundamental to all experience, and not something which could be 'attained' any more than the sky could be attained.

 

[dyanaprajna2011]

Ram Dass referred to an abidharma teaching which may be helpful here. According to this teaching, there are 17 trillion mind moments in the time it takes to blink your eye. Nirvana is defined as the space between mind moments. In other words, nirvana is the space-like aspect of mind in which events occur.
So nirvana is ever present, fundamental to all experience, and not something which could be 'attained' any more than the sky could be attained.

That's the basic teaching of the Heart Sutra as well.

 

[apophenia]

That's the basic teaching of the Heart Sutra as well.

Yep. The Heart Sutra is such a concise distillation . Simple and profound, and essentially all the meditator needs to be told IMHO.

 

[dyanaprajna2011]

Yep. The Heart Sutra is such a concise distillation . Simple and profound, and essentially all the meditator needs to be told IMHO.

Absolutely. Which is probably why it's one of the most popular sutras in Mahayana Buddhism, particularly Zen.

 

[Twilight Hue]

They sell cans of Nirvana at the store. Tastes like coconut.

 

[DreadFish]

They sell cans of Nirvana at the store. Tastes like coconut.

Speaking of which, I just had a nice hot cup of nirvana, no cream or sugar.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Speaking of which, I just had a nice hot cup of nirvana, no cream or sugar.

:coffee2:

 

[milindlokde]

It's really unfortunate that no one answered this question satisfactorily to be of help to anyone.

1. I have never personally met anyone who has attained Nirvana.
2. It is definitely possible.

For the first part, we have many people in India who seem to have attained a state very close to Nirvana or even Nirvana. These people are worshiped by public and have huge following. I have had few occasions to listen to their wisdom personally and they seem to know quite a lot and seem to be free from worldly pleasures. Some of them do fall prey to samsara again and get into some sort of scandals.

For the second part, Nirvana is definitely possible. Being a Buddhist myself I know the term Nirvana since my childhood and have been trying since to understand it and now know for sure that Nirvana do exist. I now have an online book/website "Attaining Nirvana" to answer this very question. Most people think Nirvana can be attained only by becoming a monk or a yogi. That may be true but not really necessary. Buddha has given a very specific path for attaining nirvana - the Noble Eight Fold Path.

It is indeed difficult to understand Nirvana in words as there is nothing it can be compared with. But the more you try to understand Nirvana and follow the Noble Eight Fold Path, the more you will be convinced that Nirvana does exist and it is attainable and must be strived for.

 

[Twilight Hue]

It's really unfortunate that no one answered this question satisfactorily to be of help to anyone.

1. I have never personally met anyone who has attained Nirvana.
2. It is definitely possible.

For the first part, we have many people in India who seem to have attained a state very close to Nirvana or even Nirvana. These people are worshiped by public and have huge following. I have had few occasions to listen to their wisdom personally and they seem to know quite a lot and seem to be free from worldly pleasures. Some of them do fall prey to samsara again and get into some sort of scandals.

For the second part, Nirvana is definitely possible. Being a Buddhist myself I know the term Nirvana since my childhood and have been trying since to understand it and now know for sure that Nirvana do exist. I now have an online book/website "Attaining Nirvana" to answer this very question. Most people think Nirvana can be attained only by becoming a monk or a yogi. That may be true but not really necessary. Buddha has given a very specific path for attaining nirvana - the Noble Eight Fold Path.

It is indeed difficult to understand Nirvana in words as there is nothing it can be compared with. But the more you try to understand Nirvana and follow the Noble Eight Fold Path, the more you will be convinced that Nirvana does exist and it is attainable and must be strived for.

You don't need explanations or books on what everyone has experienced. Rest assured everyone has experienced nirvana already. Convincing or searching is not required.

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

I think I know 3 One being my teacher. She is an old Indian Lady. At a young age she went for years to live by herself in the jungles of Assam. I have been around her for many years now. She is always full of love. Never shows off. Never acts in a selfish way. Sometimes I feel like in her presents. That the difference between me and her is as great, as a chimp and a human.

 

[milindlokde]

India has many religions and everyone dealing in spirituality. Nirvana has many names and some times no name at all but just the path with no real goal but the path itself. Spirituality has many goals one of them being Nirvana/Moksha - the ultimate liberation from the illusions of material world.

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

For the first part, we have many people in India who seem to have attained a state very close to Nirvana or even Nirvana. These people are worshiped by public and have huge following.

I for one am very skeptical of those people. Many seem like Hindu and Buddhist Televangelists. I went to two of these folks. I came a way with many doubts. But the ultimate truth in this area is... Even if they were, it does me no good I need a teacher who is up close. Who I can see day in and day out. I just don't believe that being hugged or touched by a perfumed peacock feather will help me transcend my ego.

 

[milindlokde]

I came a way with many doubts.

Same here. I had as much doubt. I never trust anyone completely.

I just don't believe that being hugged or touched by a perfumed peacock feather will help me transcend my ego.

There are too many things we don't believe but are true and do exist. I believe we should not reject things without questioning and accept things without questioning either. And you are right it won't not really help you transcend your ego.

 

[Wannabe Yogi]

Sometimes I feel like in her presents. That the difference between me and her is as great, as a chimp and a human.

One time I asked her If she was enlightened. She Giggled and answered my question of course and so are you. You just can't see it yet. There is no difference between us. You are my son and I love you.

 

[milindlokde]

Nirvana in Buddhist context is a very specific state and there are various states and stages below Nirvana which not less significant.

 

[Twilight Hue]

One time I asked her If she was enlightened. She Giggled and answered my question of course and so are you. You just can't see it yet. There is no difference between us. You are my son and I love you.

Sounds like a wonderful teacher Yogi. :0)