Buddhism beliefs: Nirvana

At its core, Buddhism is based on observation of reality and direct experience, as opposed to revealed truths about the nature of the world. Hence the emphasis in Buddhism for training people in ways they can observe and experience reality at a deeper level (e.g. meditation).

Like Western scientific thought, Buddhism emphasizes causality – expressed in the concepts of Karma and Samsara. The latter is the cycle of suffering and rebirth (or cause-and-effect), and Karma the energy that drives this cycle.

Some people think of Nirvana as some sort of a promised land: the palce where "good" people get to go, i.e. a place that is somewhat similar to the Western idea of Paradise as expressed in the popular culture. It helps to think of Mirvana as a state, as opposed to a place.

Nirvana means "cessation" and refers to the cessation of suffering. Awakening (or enlightenment) means reaching the state of Nirvana. This what the Buddha did, and Buddhism (especially the Mahayana traditions) offer people a path to reach awakening.

See:
- The Heart Sutra (an adaptation)
- Free ebook featuring illustrated text of Twenty Mahayana Verses by Nagarjuna.

See also: Zen, Koans

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