Parinirvana

The death of the Buddha, or Mahaparinirvana, Gandhara 2-3rd century.

Attendants to the Parinirvana, Gandhara, Victoria and Albert museum.

In Buddhism, parinirvana (Sanskrit: परिनिर्वाण parinirvāṇa; Pali: परिनिब्बाण parinibbāṇa; Chinese: 般涅槃, bō niè pán) is the final nirvana, usually understood to be within reach only upon the death of the body of someone who has attained complete awakening (bodhi). It is the ultimate goal of Buddhist practice and implies a release from the bhavachakra, Saṃsāra, karma and rebirth as well as the dissolution of all worldly physical and mental aggregates or skandhas.

The parinirvana of the Buddha is described in two different sutras: the Mahaparinirvana Sutta and the Nirvana Sutra. Because of its attention to detail, the Mahaparinirvana Sutta (of the Theravada tradition) has been resorted to as the principal source of reference in most standard studies of the Buddha's life. It is also the oldest existing account. Although the alternative Nirvana Sutra (of the Mahayana tradition) mentions some of the well-known episodes in the final months of the life of the Buddha, it uses these narratives merely as a convenient springboard for the expression of standard Mahayana ideals. Both in style and in content, the Nirvana Sutra displays a disregard for historic particulars and a fascination with the supernatural and the ideals which characterize Mahayana writings in general. As a Mahayana Sutra, it is of rather late date (after the second century AD).

See also

• The life of the Buddha
• Mahaparinirvana Sutra
• Prabashvara

External links

• Complete translation of the Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra
• SN VI.15: Parinibbana Sutta - Total Unbiding
• Maha-parinibbana Sutta - The Great Discourse on the Total Unbinding