Nirvana

Abstract

This book review article aimed to analyze and evaluate the academic value of the book Nirvana, a collection of Dhamma lectures by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu (2013). The study focused on examining the concept of Nirvana, the approaches used in explaining Buddhist teachings, and the significance of Buddhist interpretations within a contemporary context.

This study was conducted as documentary research using content analysis combined with critical and comparative analysis. The book Nirvana was used as the primary source of data, while comparisons were made with the Tipitaka, commentarial texts, and related academic works in Buddhist philosophy and Buddhist ethics. These sources were analyzed to evaluate the consistency, strengths, and limitations of the interpretations presented.

The findings revealed that the book presented an interpretation of Nirvana as an attainable state in the present moment through the concepts of “the coolness of the mind” and the framework of “ordinary language–Dhamma language.” This interpretation differed from the mainstream Theravada Buddhist explanation, which generally emphasized Nirvana as the ultimate goal of liberation from the cycle of rebirth (samsara). This approach helped establish connections between Buddhist teachings and everyday human experiences and expanded the meaning of Buddhist practice toward the dimensions of Buddhist ethics, duty performance, and social responsibility. However, this interpretation also raised issues concerning its consistency with the Tipitaka and commentarial traditions, as well as the potential risks of reducing the hierarchical stages of Buddhist practice and causing misunderstandings regarding the concept of Nirvana.

In conclusion, the book Nirvana was considered valuable as a work that revitalized the interpretation of Buddhism to align with contemporary social contexts. It provided a