This compilation of similar teachings is an invitation to broaden one’s personal understanding of what the state of Nibbāna is.

I will teach you, bhikkhus, about the unconditioned and the path leading to the unconditioned. Listen to this. And what, bhikkhus, is the unconditioned?

And what, bhikkhus, is the unconditioned? The ending of greed (lust, desire, attachment), the ending of hatred (ill-will, aversion, resentment), the ending of delusion (assumption making tendencies, absence of close examination and verification) — this, bhikkhus, is called the unconditioned.

And what, bhikkhus, is the path leading to the unconditioned?

It is tranquility (samatho).

It is insight (vipassanā).

It is concentration accompanied by reflection and examination.

… It is concentration with reflection only.

… It is concentration without reflection or examination.

… It is the concentration of emptiness.

… It is the concentration absent of any signs (signless).

It is the concentration in wishlessness.

ℹ️ The different concentrations enumerated here are different stages of letting go of the five aggregates.

…

This, bhikkhus, is called the path leading to the unconditioned.

Thus, bhikkhus, I have taught you about the unconditioned, the path leading to the unconditioned.

What should be done for his disciples out of compassion by a teacher who seeks their welfare and has compassion for them, that I have done for you, bhikkhus. These are the roots of trees, these are empty huts. Meditate, bhikkhus, do not be negligent; lest you regret it later. This is our instruction to you."

This discourse is presented over 33 different teachings with different words used for Nibbāna. Here are all the words used to describe Nibbāna:

  1. the unconditioned (SN 43.12)
  2. the uninclined (SN 43.13)
  3. the taintless
  4. the truth
  5. the far shore
  6. the subtle
  7. the hard to see
  8. the unaging 9.the stable
  9. the non-disintegrating
  10. the signless
  11. the non-proliferation
  12. the peaceful
  13. the deathless
  14. the excellent
  15. the auspicious
  16. the safe
  17. the wearing away of craving
  18. the wonderful
  19. the marvelous
  20. the freedom from calamity
  21. the state free from calamity
  22. Nibbāna
  23. the blameless
  24. dispassion
  25. purity
  26. freedom
  27. non-clinging
  28. the island
  29. the security
  30. the protection
  31. the shelter
  32. the ultimate goal (SN 43.44)

Different translators may choose slightly different English words corresponding to the above words as many of them have similar meaning synonyms.

Likely, these teachings happened at different times during the Buddha’s 45-year teaching career and are likely compiled together as an organization mechanism when the teachings were written down.

The relevant takeaway from these sets of teachings is that Nibbāna is not death, nor annihilation nor something that should be overlooked, nor something to be ignored as being not possible in this day and age anymore.

Nibbāna (enlightenment) is the ultimate goal that all living beings strive for, whether knowingly or unknowingly.

An enlightened being experiences unconditional joy, is free of the mental defilements and hindrances and as a result is experiencing a high degree of concentration, has ability to recollect what was said and done long ago, has blossoming personal and professional relationships, has realized the not-self nature of all conditioned phenomena, and is freed from holding onto any assumptions or beliefs.

It is possible to realize Nibbāna whether one is a householder or one is a monastic, whether one is skeptical, or one already has a degree of faith. It is by closely examining and reflecting on the teachings of the Buddha (you’re doing this already!), asking for clarification and then applying in practice to independently verify for improvements to the condition of the mind and improvements in one’s personal and professional relationships – that one awakens to the truth of enlightenment (stream-entry).

Related Teachings:

Cultivating faith to awaken to the truth (SN 55.55) ↗️ - No prior faith if required or assumed of in the teachings of the Buddha. Regardless of one’s degree of skepticism, if one is doing the following, they will slowly but surely awaken to the truth of enlightenment and develop experiential faith through their awakening. This teaching shares on the four factors that lead to stream-entry.

No Dogmas or Blind Belief ↗️ - In this teaching, the Buddha shares 10 factors that one shouldn’t rely on to form a view. He emphasizes on observing of the wearing away of greed, hate and delusion, i.e. observing for harmony across all of one’s relationships as well as the condition of the mind itself.

Gradual Training, Gradual Practice, and Gradual Progress (MN 107) - Gradual training guidelines that can be gradually practiced to verifiably observe gradual progress.