What Is Buddhist Nirvana?

What does nirvana mean in Buddhism? We'll look at some descriptions of it before turning to different views on its ontological status. Then we'll consider some later developments in ideas about nirvana.

** Note: the Pāli term "appatiṭṭha" in Ud. 8.1 likely parallels the Sanskrit "apratiṣṭha" rather than "apratiṣṭhita". Does this make any difference? Research leaves me unsure, though doubtful. If you have answers feel free to post them!

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✅ Videos mentioned:
Bhikkhu Bodhi's surprising and profound description of Nibbana! —    • Bhikkhu Bodhi's surprising and profou...   (Discussion with Daniel Aitken).

Nirvana and Enlightenment: What's the Difference? —    • Nirvana and Enlightenment: What's the...  
What is Buddhist Enlightenment? —    • What is Buddhist Enlightenment?  
What is "The Unconditioned" in Buddhism? —    • What is "The Unconditioned" in Buddhism?  
The Hierarchy of Pleasures in Early Buddhism —    • The Hierarchy of Pleasures in Early B...  
Why Won't the Buddha Answer You? (The Unanswered Questions) —    • Why Won't the Buddha Answer You? (The...  
The Strange Early Buddhist Sutta on the Impermanence of Elements —    • The Strange Early Buddhist Sutta on t...  

✅ Suttas mentioned:
https://suttacentral.net/an3.55/en/su...
https://suttacentral.net/ud8.1/en/sujato
https://suttacentral.net/iti44/en/sujato
https://suttacentral.net/sn45.7/en/su...
https://suttacentral.net/mn72/en/sujato
https://suttacentral.net/sn38.1/en/su...
https://suttacentral.net/sn39.1/en/su...
https://suttacentral.net/sn35.28/en/s...
https://suttacentral.net/sn43.12/en/s...
https://suttacentral.net/sn43.14-43/e...
https://suttacentral.net/dhp197-208/e...
https://suttacentral.net/an9.34/en/su...
https://suttacentral.net/dn1/en/sujato
https://suttacentral.net/mn64/en/sujato
https://suttacentral.net/sn12.51/en/s...

✅ Other resources:
https://www.themindingcentre.org/dhar...

https://www.themindingcentre.org/dhar...

https://www.themindingcentre.org/dhar...

Lamotte, History of Indian Buddhism, pp. 609-611 (Cited in Tan 50.1, p. 22n103).

KR Norman, “Mistaken Ideas About Nibbāna,” in Collected Papers Vol. VI, pp. 9-30.

https://www2.buddhistdoor.net/diction...

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00:00 Intro
00:47 Early descriptions of nirvana
04:34 Controversy over nirvana’s ontological status
05:30 The “inflationary” view of nirvana
08:58 The “deflationary” view of nirvana
14:29 The “apophatic” view of nirvana
16:39 Later developments in understanding nirvana
19:02 Upshot of our discussion