Nirvana

All Buddhists strive towards one goal: freedom from the cycle of rebirth. Buddhists call this nirvana, a state of being in which attachment to the material world has been transcended. In theory, anyone can reach nirvana. Only those on the monastic path, however, follow all the principles needed to attain this advanced spiritual state. These monks and nuns have much stricter guidelines than laypeople, and are able to devote their lives to eliminating their attachment to the material world. Through ethical and moral behavior, however, laypeople can improve their karma, and thus improve their rebirth. If they are diligent, they may eventually be reborn as a monk or nun, and can set forth on the path to achieving nirvana. If they do attain nirvana, they will be freed from the cycle of rebirth and able to live life in the moment.

The Four Noble Truths

When Buddha attained enlightenment, he realized why human existence is filled with so much suffering and struggle: we are too attached to material concerns. Because we yearn and crave, we are discontented and frustrated. He simplified the problem into four main ideas, called The Four Noble Truths, which he proclaimed in his first sermon. For Buddhists, the nature of existence is explained by these four concepts:

1. Life is suffering.
2. The cause of suffering is craving.
3. Suffering can be ended by suppressing craving.
4. Craving can be suppressed by following the Noble Eightfold Path: right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration.