In original Buddhism, a practitioner who has attained a level of spiritual mastery such that they will not be reborn again in this world, but will, after death, be reborn in a heavenly realm where they will achieve nirvana.
Related Articles:
- Glossary: once-returner
- Glossary: stream-enterer
- Glossary
- 248 – Are the Buddha’s Teachings on Renunciation Relevant for Householders? – Part 1The Buddha was pretty clear. If you wanted to experience complete liberation, it was best to leave all worldly things behind: Family, sex, alcohol, fancy food, music, entertainment, frivolity, etc. Why did the Buddha recommend this? Why do fully ordained Buddhist monks and nuns still live this way? Are the Buddha’s teachings on renunciation relevant for householders?
- 118 – Buddha’s Teachings 15: Nibbana (Nirvana) as the Ultimate GoalNirvana, or nibbana, is the ultimate goal of original Buddhism and its modern representative, Theravadin Buddhism. Nibbana means "extinguished," and attaining it means you have extinguished the "outflows" of sensuality, ignorance, and the desire for further existence. Someone who attains nibbana experiences ineffable peace and freedom, and a permanent state of human perfection. Achieving nibbana, however, is supremely difficult and usually takes many lifetimes. This episode familiarizes you the teachings about nibbana, discusses some of the implications for Buddhist practice, and points out how views of nibbana are one of the fundamental differences between Theravada and Mahayana forms of Buddhism.
