What is nirvana/heaven?

[Aloka]

.

This is from the beginning of chapter one of "The Island - An anthology of the Buddha's teachings on Nibbana" by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro:

WHAT IS IT ?

Nibbana (Nirvana in Sanskrit) is a word that is used to describe an experience. When the heart is free of all obscurations, and is utterly in accord with nature, Ultimate Reality (Dhamma), it experiences perfect peace, joy and contentment. This set of qualities is what Nibbana describes. The purpose of this book is to outline the particular teachings of the Buddha that point to and illuminate ways that these qualities can be realized. From the Buddhist viewpoint, the realization of Nibbana is the fulfillment of the highest human potential – a potential that exists in all of us, regardless of nationality or creed.

(continues at the link)

https://www.dhammatalks.net/Books9/Ajah ... Island.pdf




.

[cappuccino]

"There is that dimension where there is neither earth, nor water, nor fire, nor wind; neither dimension of the infinitude of space, nor dimension of the infinitude of consciousness, nor dimension of nothingness, nor dimension of neither perception nor non-perception; neither this world, nor the next world, nor sun, nor moon. And there, I say, there is neither coming, nor going, nor stasis; neither passing away nor arising: without stance, without foundation, without support. This, just this, is the end of stress."

— Ud 8.1

[cappuccino]

There is that dimension where

[Bundokji]

What is nirvana/heaven?

A mere fantasy for those who did not realize it.

[Grigoris]

What is this unconditioned heavenly realm you are talking about?

heavenly realms are conditioned, Nirvana realm is unconditioned

Nirvana is not a realm.

[cappuccino]

What is this unconditioned heavenly realm you are talking about?

heavenly realms are conditioned, Nirvana realm is unconditioned

Nirvana is not a realm.

There is that dimension

[Grigoris]

heavenly realms are conditioned, Nirvana realm is unconditioned

Nirvana is not a realm.

There is that dimension

And that kiddies is what happens when you mistake the figurative for definitive.

[cappuccino]

“Just as... the great ocean is vast, boundless, fills not up for all
of the streams that flow into it. Precisely so Nibbæna is vast,
boundless, fills not up for all of the living beings that pass
thereunto.
But again further, – the great ocean is all in blossom, as it were,
with the flowers of its waves, – mighty, various, unnumbered.
Precisely so Nibbæna is all in blossom, as it were, with the
Flowers of Purity, Knowledge, and Deliverance, – mighty,
various, unnumbered

“Good, Reverend Nægasena! It is even so! I agree absolutely!”
~ Miln 315-323 (abridged, E.W. Burlingame trans.)

[Grigoris]

And here is the alternative translation:

Nibbāna Sutta: Parinibbana (1)
translated from the Pali by
John D. Ireland
© 1998

Thus have I heard. At one time the Lord was staying near Savatthi in the Jeta Wood at Anathapindika's monastery. On that occasion the Lord was instructing, rousing, inspiring, and gladdening the bhikkhus with a Dhamma talk connected with Nibbana, and those bhikkhus, being receptive and attentive and concentrating the whole mind, were intent on listening to Dhamma.

Then, on realizing its significance, the Lord uttered on that occasion this inspired utterance:

There is, bhikkhus, that base where there is no earth, no water, no fire, no air; no base consisting of the infinity of space, no base consisting of the infinity of consciousness, no base consisting of nothingness, no base consisting of neither-perception-nor-non-perception; neither this world nor another world nor both; neither sun nor moon. Here, bhikkhus, I say there is no coming, no going, no staying, no deceasing, no uprising. Not fixed, not movable, it has no support. Just this is the end of suffering.

[Grigoris]

“Just as... the great ocean is vast, boundless, fills not up for all
of the streams that flow into it. Precisely so Nibbæna is vast,
boundless, fills not up for all of the living beings that pass
thereunto.
But again further, – the great ocean is all in blossom, as it were,
with the flowers of its waves, – mighty, various, unnumbered.
Precisely so Nibbæna is all in blossom, as it were, with the
Flowers of Purity, Knowledge, and Deliverance, – mighty,
various, unnumbered

“Good, Reverend Nægasena! It is even so! I agree absolutely!”
~ Miln 315-323 (abridged, E.W. Burlingame trans.)

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=34986&p=524088#p524086

[Dhammanando]

...nibbāna is the cessation of contact

Source?

The commentary to the Majjhe Sutta.

The Blessed One said this: “Contact, bhikkhus, is one end; the arising of contact is the second end; the cessation of contact is in the middle; and craving is the seamstress. For craving sews one to the production of this or that state of existence. It is in this way that a bhikkhu directly knows what should be directly known; fully understands what should be fully understood; and by doing so, in this very life he makes an end of suffering.”
(AN. 6:61)

Commentary:

'Phassanirodho' ti nibbānaṃ.
""'The cessation of contact' means nibbāna."

[cappuccino]

And here is the alternative translation:

There is, bhikkhus, that base where there is no earth, no water, no fire, no air; no base consisting of the infinity of space, no base consisting of the infinity of consciousness, no base consisting of nothingness, no base consisting of neither-perception-nor-non-perception; neither this world nor another world nor both; neither sun nor moon. Here, bhikkhus, I say there is no coming, no going, no staying, no deceasing, no uprising. Not fixed, not movable, it has no support. Just this is the end of suffering.

you'll notice the base of the infinity of space is mentioned

which is a heavenly realm

thus base means realm, or dimension

[Grigoris]

you'll notice the base of the infinity of space is mentioned

which is a heavenly realm

It takes an insane stretch of logic to come to that conclusion.

[cappuccino]

you'll notice the base of the infinity of space is mentioned

which is a heavenly realm

It takes an insane stretch of logic to come to that conclusion.

well this teaching is amazing

[Grigoris]

...nibbāna is the cessation of contact

Source?

The commentary to the Majjhe Sutta.

The Blessed One said this: “Contact, bhikkhus, is one end; the arising of contact is the second end; the cessation of contact is in the middle; and craving is the seamstress. For craving sews one to the production of this or that state of existence. It is in this way that a bhikkhu directly knows what should be directly known; fully understands what should be fully understood; and by doing so, in this very life he makes an end of suffering.”
(AN. 6:61)

Commentary:

'Phassanirodho' ti nibbānaṃ.
""'The cessation of contact' means nibbāna."

'How is it possible to permanently end contact?