In your view, understanding, Parinibbana is:

[DNS]

Wasn't this one of those questions (just reworded) that the Buddha refused to answer?

Yes, one of the unanswered questions.

The Tathagata (a perfectly enlightened being) exists after death.
The Tathagata does not exist after death.
The Tathagata both exists and does not exist after death.
The Tathagata neither exists nor does not exist after death.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_unanswered_questions

But inquiring minds still want to know.

Some see the practice as being futile or pointless if it's just to attain cessation, complete cessation. There was one regular member who posted here and said something like "we're wasting our time, we're striving for nothingness." Another pondered if we're nothing but lemmings, heading off the cliff (of existence).

For most people, it's probably best to just set it aside for now and see what one discovers with insight.

[tharpa]

Some see the practice as being futile or pointless if it's just to attain cessation, complete cessation. There was one regular member who posted here and said something like "we're wasting our time, we're striving for nothingness." Another pondered if we're nothing but lemmings, heading off the cliff (of existence).

For most people, it's probably best to just set it aside for now and see what one discovers with insight.

I would agree with that recommendation. "I" tend to lean towards the complete cessation view. Once the inherent unsatisfactoriness/suffering/impermanence/egolessness of samsara is seen, then cessation no longer seems like such a bad deal.

When I read the Tipitika, it seems like the Buddha had two entirely different levels of teachings, and it's not the Hinayana and Mahayana. It was practice for householders and for monks. Monks, the higher level, the Buddha had greater expectations for. He accepted nothing less than striving for nibbana from them. For householders, on the other hand, he seemed to be emphasizing reducing dukkha in this life and the next and increasing happiness in this life and the next. Among Westerners, however, all the laypeople seem to be striving for nibbana, which is good. But it's not a requirement. If a layperson desires rebirth in the deva-loka, that's a perfectly acceptable goal.

[cappuccino]

then cessation no longer seems like such a bad deal.

Cessation is not the extreme you think


Everyone naturally thinks in extremes


Buddha does not

[wenjaforever]

It's annihilation. Because samsara can't be defeated.

[Jhana4]

I took it as annihilation.

That got to be depressing.

At some point I found/was told about sutta references where it is stated that it is not annihilation, it can not be described, and it is the ultimate happiness.

So now, I take it as

"I will not understand it as long as I am alive, but it is the ultimate happiness".

[equilibrium]

It's annihilation. Because samsara can't be defeated.

There is no need to defeat samsara ….. it’s to be transcended …… always has been ….. always will be ….. as per the teachings. ….. hence an escape. ….. therefore cannot be annihilation.

Samsara isn’t real!

[acinteyyo]

I couldn't choose any one of the options, because none really describes what I think parinibbana describes.
The best way I am able to describe my view of parinibbana is probably: the final dissolution of a particular set or arrangement or framework of pancakhanda

Though not the pancakhanda themselves, but a particular arrangement... Something along those lines... I guess.

best wishes, acinteyyo

[Aloka]

.

According to chapter 11 in the book "The Island" by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, it's the passing away of someone who has attained Nibbana.

https://amaravati.org/dhamma-books/the-island/

[Microdose]

I didn’t read the whole thread just the title


We can’t expect to know everything

Somethings we can for practical purpose and it’s good to discus, but mind is so liberated when we give up trying to know everything, are we so powerful that we can be an all knowing being

Emptiness is a blessing

It’s a discovery

[confusedlayman]

End of all experience ..

[User13866]

then it's dukkha and nothing else.

nirvana is a state of mind… free of stress

Nibbana is removal of greed, anger & delusion.

This, bhikkhu, is a designation for the element of Nibbāna: the removal of lust, the removal of hatred, the removal of delusion. The destruction of the taints is spoken of in that way.”
https://suttacentral.net/sn45.7/en/bodh ... ight=false

The absense of greed, anger & delusion in the mind of the Aahant is called "Nibbana with remnant fuel/residue".

“What, bhikkhus, is the Nibbāna-element with residue left? Here a bhikkhu is an arahant, one whose taints are destroyed, the holy life fulfilled, who has done what had to be done, laid down the burden, attained the goal, destroyed the fetters of being, completely released through final knowledge. However, his five sense faculties remain unimpaired, by which he still experiences what is agreeable and disagreeable and feels pleasure and pain. It is the extinction of attachment, hate, and delusion in him that is called the Nibbāna-element with residue left.
https://suttacentral.net/iti44/en/irela ... ight=false

If Nibbana was a state of mind of the Arahant, as you have asserted, then this nibbana is impermanent because what is called mind, consciousness or intellect is impermanent and dependently arisen.

[cappuccino]

If Nibbana was a state of mind of the Arahant … then

Unconditioned state, not conditioned (Impermanent)

[cappuccino]

The mind of the Arahant is conditioned.

Nirvana is unconditioned

[User13866]

The mind of the Arahant is conditioned.

Nirvana is unconditioned

You keep saying this but you contradict yourself by saying that it is the mindstate of an Arahant.

You can't have it both ways.

[cappuccino]

You can't have it both ways.

Nirvana is the state of mind of an arhat


Nirvana is unconditioned