Differences Between Moksha And Nirvana

[Silverbackman]

What are the differences between moksha and nirvana? Both concepts are basicly the same thing, which is releasment from the cycle of rebirth. What makes moksha and nirvana that much different?

Nirvana to Hindus and Buddhists;

1. Buddhism. The ineffable ultimate in which one has attained disinterested wisdom and compassion.
2. Hinduism. Emancipation from ignorance and the extinction of all attachment.

Moksha is a more broader term that means both of these definations of Nirvana, so is there really much difference? What do you think?

[Agnideva]

Originally Posted by Silverbackman

Moksha is a more broader term that means both of these definations of Nirvana, so is there really much difference? What do you think?

In Hinduism, the terms moksha, nirvana and mukti (liberation) are used as synonyms to describe release or freedom from the cycles of birth and death (samsara). Moksha is a process and not a state of being. In the Hindu definition, moksha is not something to be experienced or realized, but rather attained upon God-realization (I suspect this where the difference lies between the Hindu and Buddhist definitions of nirvana).

In many schools of thought, one continues to exist after moksha in the causal plane of existence free of karma and maya, until final oneness (technically termed vishvagrasa) is attained. However, some people may also use the term moksha to mean the final oneness between Brahman and Atman. As an aside, in monistic schools of Hinduism, the state of oneness is called a merger (complete oneness); whereas the non-monistic schools call it a union (Atman is eternally distinct).

[Vajradhara]

Namaste all,


another salient difference between them is that, for Buddhists, Nirvana/Nibbana is not the "goal" or the "ultimate destination" or however it may be termed. Nirvana is, for lack of a better term, a "rest station" along the path.

metta,

~v

[Silverbackman]

Originally Posted by Vajradhara

Namaste all,


another salient difference between them is that, for Buddhists, Nirvana/Nibbana is not the "goal" or the "ultimate destination" or however it may be termed. Nirvana is, for lack of a better term, a "rest station" along the path.

metta,

~v

Then what is the "goal" or "ultimate destination" of Buddhism?

[Vajradhara]

Originally Posted by Silverbackman

Then what is the "goal" or "ultimate destination" of Buddhism?

generally speaking, and of course knowing that we are using conventional consensus...

the "goal" so to speak, is Buddhahood.

in practice, it is the difference between the Arhant and the Bodhisattva.

metta,

~v