parinirvÄáša
Quick Summary
In Buddhism, parinirvÄáša refers to the final passing away of the Buddha and all sentient beings into nirvana, the ultimate goal of Buddhist practice. It signifies the complete extinction of desire, hatred, and ignorance, leading to the cessation of suffering and the cycle of rebirth (samsara).12
The Buddha himself achieved nirvana upon enlightenment and experienced parinirvÄáša at the age of 80 upon his death. This state is described as a blissful, unconditioned state beyond suffering, not as annihilation but as a positive goal to be sought. The concept of parinirvÄáša is also linked to the trisvabhava doctrine, representing the perfectly attained form of existence, which is the ultimate truth of transcendental emptiness.3124
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