The qualities of Nibbāna - What kind of state we are striving to achieve
I'm sure we all face difficulties from time to time with staying on track, staying motivated, and having the strength and discipline to follow the right path. It is very difficult not to give into materialistic pleasures and the temporary enjoyment they offer.
So I was thinking how helpful it would be to contemplate on the end goal and keep reminding of ourselves what it is we are trying to achieve, and the type of happiness and bliss we will get. This brought my attention to Upasamānussati – The contemplation of the qualities of Nibbāna.
So here are the qualities I found so far. I hope they will help you stay motivated to achieve Nibbāna and end suffering. Whenever you feel unmotivated, contemplating on these qualities will perhaps help you remember again what a wonderful thing it is that we are trying to achieve.
Qualities of Nibbāna
Ajara – Free from aging. Nibbāna is beyond decay and deterioration. It is not subject to the passage of time.
Amara (Amata) – Deathless. Nibbāna is beyond death because it is not a conditioned phenomenon that arises and ceases.
Abyādhi (Avyādhi) – Free from disease. It is completely free from affliction, suffering, and any form of illness.
Asoka – Free from sorrow. Nibbāna is untouched by grief, sadness, or mental anguish.
Asaṅkhata – Unconditioned. It is not created by causes and conditions, unlike all conditioned phenomena.
Santa – Peaceful. Nibbāna is the highest peace, where all agitation and suffering have ceased.
Paṇīta – Sublime or supreme. It is the highest, most excellent state that can be realized.
Sabbasaṅkhārasamatha – The stilling of all conditioned formations. All conditioned activities and fabrications come to complete rest.
Sabbūpadhipaṭinissagga – Relinquishment of all acquisitions. All attachments and the bases for continued existence are completely abandoned.
Taṇhakkhaya – Destruction of craving. Every form of craving is eradicated, ending the cause of suffering.
Virāga – Dispassion. All attachment, desire, and passion have completely faded away.
Viraja – Stainless or free from defilements. Nibbāna is perfectly pure and untouched by mental impurities.
Nirodha – Cessation. It is the complete cessation of suffering and the causes that produce it.
Nibbāna – Liberation or extinguishment. The extinguishing of greed, hatred, and delusion, resulting in perfect freedom.
Yogakkhema – Supreme security from bondage. It is absolute safety from the bonds of saṃsāra and all suffering.
Khema – Security or safety. Nibbāna is a state of complete freedom from danger and fear.
Siva – Auspicious, blissful, and secure. It is the supreme good, free from misfortune and harm.
Dīpa – The island (or refuge). Nibbāna is a safe refuge amidst the floods of saṃsāra.
Saraṇa – The refuge. It is the ultimate place of protection from suffering.
Pāra – The far shore. Nibbāna is the destination beyond the ocean of birth, death, and suffering.
Sacca – The truth. It is the ultimate reality that does not change.
Parama – The supreme goal. It is the highest attainment in the Buddha's teaching.
Visuddhi – Perfect purity. It is completely purified from every stain and defilement.
Acala – Unshakeable. Nibbāna cannot be disturbed, altered, or destroyed.
Ajāta – Unborn. It has no arising or coming into existence, unlike conditioned things.
Free from lamentation – There is no crying, mourning, or emotional distress in Nibbāna.
Free from pain – It is beyond both physical and mental suffering.
Free from grief – There is no inner affliction or mental burden.
Free from despair – Hopelessness and anguish have no place in Nibbāna.
Free from greed (Lobha) – All attachment, possessiveness, and craving have been extinguished.
Free from hatred (Dosa) – There is no anger, ill will, or aversion whatsoever.
Free from delusion (Moha) – Ignorance has been completely removed, and reality is fully understood.
Free from conceit (Māna) – All notions of "I," "me," and superiority, inferiority, or equality have ceased.
Free from wrong view (Diṭṭhi) – Every false understanding of reality has been abandoned.
Free from all defilements (Kilesa) – Nibbāna is entirely free from every mental impurity that binds beings to saṃsāra.
Free from all Mada (intoxications) – Nibbāna is beyond every form of worldly pride and intoxication, including pride of youth, health, life, birth, beauty, wealth, power, status, and knowledge. It is utterly free from every basis for arrogance or complacency.