Nirvana

Nibbana is a word used by the Buddha to describe the perfect peace of the mind that is free from craving, anger and other affective states (kilesa). This peace, which is in reality the fundamental nature of the mind, is revealed when the root causes of the affective states are dissolved. The causes themselves (see Sankhara) lie deep within the mind (that part of the mind that Western psychology calls the unconscious) but their undoing is gradually achieved by living a disciplined life (Eightfold path). In Nibbana the root causes of craving and aversion have been extinguished such that one is no longer subject to human suffering (Dukkha) or further states of rebirths in Samsara. The Buddha in the Dhammapada says of Nirvana that it is "the highest happiness". This happiness is rather an enduring, transcendental happiness integral to the calmness attained through enlightenment or bodhi, than the happiness of blindful entertainment. The knowledge accompanying nirvana is expressed through the word bodhi. In Jainism, it means final release from the karmic bondage. When an enlightened human, such as, an Arhat or a Tirthankara extinguishes his remaining aghatiya karmas and thus ends his worldly existence, it is called nirvana. Technically, the death of an Arhat is called nirvana of Arhat, as he has ended his wordly existence and attained liberation. Moksa, that is to say, liberation follows nirvana. An Arhat becomes a Siddha, the liberated one, after attaining nirvana.