Nirvana

Etymologically the word nirvana is composed of two words- nir meaning without and vana meaning the path of rebirth. So the conjugated word nirvana means: to achieve salvation through "moksha" and gaining freedom from the cycle of birth and rebirth.

If you were born a Hindu, like I was, you’ve probably grown-up extoling the virtues of living a pure life that'll help you  attain nirvana. Even as a child this concept intrigued me. How was I to know whether or not I had attained nirvana? If I were to die and not be reborn how was I to accomplish the goal of transforming myself into a superior being through good deeds? Wasn’t that the goal of every mortal? If this life form is as far as I can progress, then why would I aspire to be pure and good? All these questions and many more perplexed me and I spent many hours ruminating; trying to divine the meaning of such a complex notion.

But then I was still young and had not experienced as much of life as I have now. Contemplation has become an integral part of my being. My detractors say I live my life in my head. Be that as it may, I like to think. And it is this ability to reflect that has led me to believe that one does not really need to die to achieve moksha or nirvana.

Like a lot of concepts in Hindu philosophy, the maxim that salvation means being free of the cycle of birth and rebirth, is also metaphorical. It could also mean that one must purge oneself of desire that binds one to earthly things. And this act of purging all earthly yearning, of letting go, is in reality true nirvana.

Have you ever considered how much self-restraint and will power it takes to let go of even an old dress, an old shoe, an old habit, an old belief? Let alone letting go of every earthly possession, every desire and every wish…? Why then is it so important to let go? Why must we not cling to our possessions, our beliefs, our preferences? After mulling over this I've arrived at the most logical conclusion (at least for me) - that if we remain attached to our possessions, relationships, aspirations etc. it will make dying and parting with all these that much harder. Since all creatures born must die, suffering at the time of death must be the hardest thing to bear. You can only die peacefully if you don’t have things that hold you back.

And what is death, after all? Is it merely ceasing to be? Merely having your life snuffed out and becoming a silent observer of all that goes on in the mortal plane from some invisible abode? Coming to terms with this thought and being at peace with this arrangement is, in my mind, synonymous with achieving nirvana.

Of course, this is just my view. Everybody is entitled to his/her own views on this enigmatic topic. My journey through this ephemeral existence towards immortality has only just begun…I’m trying very hard to root out all negative feelings and to look at unpleasant experiences in a cathartic way. I have always been open-hearted and generous about material possessions, now I’m trying to be that way emotionally and spiritually. It is undeniably a long and arduous journey but as the saying goes…every journey begins with the first step… I have embarked on my journey, taking baby steps towards realizing nirvana in my own way.