nirvana

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nir·va·na

(nîr-vä′nə, nər-)

1. often Nirvana

a. Buddhism A state in which the mind, enlightened as to the illusory nature of the self, transcends all suffering and attains peace.

b. Hinduism A state in which the soul, having relinquished individual attachments and recognized its identity with Brahman, escapes samsara.

2. An ideal condition of rest, harmony, stability, or joy.

[Sanskrit nirvāṇam, a blowing out, extinction, nirvana : nis-, nir-, out, away + vāti, it blows; see wē- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

nirvana

(nɪəˈvɑːnə; nɜː-)

(Buddhism) Buddhism Hinduism final release from the cycle of reincarnation attained by extinction of all desires and individual existence, culminating (in Buddhism) in absolute blessedness, or (in Hinduism) in absorption into Brahman

[C19: from Sanskrit: extinction, literally: a blowing out, from nir- out + vāti it blows]

nirˈvanic adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

nir•va•na

(nɪrˈvɑ nə, -ˈvæn ə, nər-)

n.

1. (often cap.) (in Buddhism) the final release from the cycle of reincarnations as a result of the extinction of individual passion, hatred, and delusion.

2. (often cap.) (in Hinduism) salvation through the union of Atman with Brahma.

3. a place or state characterized by freedom from pain and worry.

[1830–40; < Skt nirvāṇa]

nir•va′nic, adj.

nirvana

1. A state of ultimate wisdom and blessedness.

2. A state of release from the cycle of reincarnation and absorption into the universal reality.

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Noun	1.	nirvana - (Hinduism and Buddhism) the beatitude that transcends the cycle of reincarnation; characterized by the extinction of desire and suffering and individual consciousness enlightenment Hindooism, Hinduism - a body of religious and philosophical beliefs and cultural practices native to India and based on a caste system; it is characterized by a belief in reincarnation, by a belief in a supreme being of many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and by a desire for liberation from earthly evils Buddhism - the teaching of Buddha that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire, that suffering ceases when desire ceases, and that enlightenment obtained through right conduct and wisdom and meditation releases one from desire and suffering and rebirth beatification, beatitude, blessedness - a state of supreme happiness
	2.	nirvana - any place of complete bliss and delight and peace Eden, heaven, paradise, Shangri-la, promised land region, part - the extended spatial location of something; "the farming regions of France"; "religions in all parts of the world"; "regions of outer space"

nirvana

noun paradise, peace, joy, bliss, serenity, tranquillity They believe in a continuous cycle of births and deaths until the soul is perfected and achieves nirvana.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

Nirvana Nirwana

νιρβάνα

nirvana

autuusnirvanaonni

nirvana

nirvána

nirwana

nirvana

[nɪəˈvaːnə] N → nirvana m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

Nirvana

n → Nirwana nt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

References in periodicals archive ?

Eschewing the ancient rule that what is born will die, she sides with the modern aporia against the late-modern nirvanic principle that would declare it to be no longer problematic.

Another Finitude: Messianic Vitalism and Philosophy

In an era like this one, it's best to forget the idea of celebrating romantic love, with its heightened exhilaration and expectation of nirvanic perfection, not to speak of all those brain chemicals gone berserk with desire.

A difficult year for romance

I also said "Nirvana is the good, and rightness is predicated of acts and intentions to the extent which they participate in nirvanic goodness."9 The corollary of this, which I also affirmed, is that "If an action does not display nirvanic qualities then it cannot be right in terms of Buddhist ethics" (177).

On the good in Aristotle and early Buddhism: A response to Abraham Velez

If you ask me, "What is it?" I will say it is the Nirvanic Gate of Great Serenity.

Perfecting mind and its qualia of silence in Korean Son poetry

Untouched, unassailable, undefiled, that mighty world-force, that nourisher of wrapped in Nirvanic calm, indifferent to the human swarm, gigantic, resistless, moved onward in its appointed grooves ...

Nature, the individual, and the market in Norris and Dreiser

The kind of moral clarity, I presume, that has helped my baby-boom generation usher in a nirvanic world of presidents preying on 22-year-old interns, marriages with a coin-flip chance of success, political correctness trumping common sense, Dems and Reps squabbling over who lit the match while the kingdom burns, and the release of the Ford Pinto.

Students: It's our town, don't trash it

A Bodhisattva is someone with pure, impeccable intentions--a gentle, fearless spiritual warrior who strives unceasingly to help everyone reach nirvanic peace and enlightenment." (Lama Surya Das) (4)