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Nirvana, as per Buddhism, is a complex state of being in which an individual transcends the suffering of the world and recognizes their unity with the universe. The individual who achieves Nirvana can ultimately break free from the cycle of rebirth to exist spiritually, though not personally. The term Nirvana translates to “blowing out” or “quenching,” but its spiritual connotation is more intricate. Nirvana can signify the process of extinguishing—either gradually fading away or swiftly (similar to blowing out a candle). The ultimate aim of Buddhism is Nirvana, where the extinguishing of all desires is total, and the individual undergoes a transformation into another state. Picture a candle burning and then being put out. Its energy is not lost but transforms into a different form of energy. This serves as a basic analogy of what occurs when a soul reaches Nirvana.
There are three “fires” that Buddhists aim to extinguish to attain Nirvana: passion, aversion (hatred), and ignorance (delusion). At first glance, this extinguishing may seem reminiscent of biblical teachings. The Bible cautions against being controlled by or giving in to lust/passion «Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. », (Romans 6:12) and instructs us to “put to death” our earthly inclinations, including sinful passions «Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: », (Colossians 3:5). Hatred and deliberate ignorance are also condemned in Scripture. There are at least 71 proverbs that address “the fool,” and none of them portray it positively. Hatred isAlso, a negative state, biblically. “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs” «Hatred stirreth up strifes: But love covereth all sins.», (Proverbs 10:12).
However, Buddhism’s quenching of “passion” is far different from the Bible’s directive to “flee youthful passions” «Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.», (2 Timothy 2:22, ESV). Buddhism does not see sin as the violation of a divine moral code; rather, it recommends the elimination of all desires, which, of course, is self-defeating— in order to get rid of all desire, one must desire to have it gone. And it’s not a biblical idea, anyway— God promises to give us the desires of our hearts as we delight in Him «Delight thyself also in the LORD; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.», (Psalm 37:4), and the biblical heaven, as opposed to Nirvana, is a place where pleasures abound, and desires are fulfilled (Psalm 16).
The concept of Nirvana is opposed to the Bible’s teaching of heaven. Scripture says there is no way to work out our path to heaven «Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.», (Romans 3:20). No amount of meditation, self-denial, or enlightenment can make one righteous before a holy God. Also, Buddhism teaches that a person who arrives at the state of Nirvana loses all personal identity, all desire, and even his or her body. The Bible teaches that heaven is an actual place, not a state of mind, in which we retain our personal identities and inhabit resurrected bodies.
We will not exist in a vague state of constant indifference; instead, we will experience the fulfillment of our most fundamental longing—fellowship with God: “You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” «Thou wilt show me the path of life: In thy presence is fullness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.», (Psalm 16:11).
