Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
Now, with the above understanding, I believe I can answer your
topic much better.
As you can see, there is no fixed or separate entity called
'Soul'. If anything, 'soul' should only be considered as a
conventional name refering to our subconscious, but our
subconscious is also not an entity but one whole flow of
conditionings succeeding moment to moment.
So whether "soul expires" is irrelevant. There is no fixed thing
called "self", "soul", that can expire, or annihilate. But....
------------------------------------
Stomachache. Condition arose to go toilet.
Now conditions arose to continue.
So let me continue.
....So whether "soul expires" is irrelevant. There is no fixed thing
called "self", "soul", that can expire, or annihilate. But....
...comes the question or Nirvana (cessation). What is Nirvana, really? Isn't it the annihilation of the "I"?
And the answer to this is, Nope, Nirvana is not the annihilation of the self.
Because all along there is no self, what self is there to annihilate? There is only conditioned arising moment to moment.
Nirvana hence, is defined as the absence of conditioned for further sufferings, delusions, and further re-birth.
Please understand that birth can only take place with the Conditions of ignorance leading to the 12 interdependent links of origination.
Without such conditions, no birth takes place, hence it is like fire blowing on fuel, without the fuel, the fire stops burning and blows out.
Fire is not an entity, fire is constantly changing according to conditions, no two moments of fire are the same. We can't say that fire is a fixed entity that is annihilated. But when the base condition [fuel] for fire runs out, the fire is blown out. The fire stops burning, there is no more birth.
Nirvana just means the absence of condition to give rise to further birth.
For an arhat, even while still living, nirvana is experienced. However nirvana experienced while he is alive is known as 'nirvana with residue', while after his passing it is known as 'nirvana without residue'.
In 'Nirvana with residue', the arhat no longer has ignorance and sufferings, but still has a body and mind.
In 'Nirvana without residue', the body of the arhat passes away, so there is no more body/mind.
However, a Bodhisattva returns to Samsara, and continues the work of saving sentient beings out of great compassion, and practice his way to Buddhahood.
Does such a Bodhisattva still experience nirvana? Yes. But his Nirvana is the Nirvana of Non-Abidance. He neither abides in nirvana or samsara, he experiences no ignorance and is liberated from the effects of afflictions.