Nibbāna in Early Buddhism: Based on Pāli Sources

The book is organized around six core chapters. The first chapter examines dukkha, including its meaning, domain, and the question of whether Buddhism should be interpreted pessimistically. The second chapter introduces Nibbāna by discussing its Buddhist meaning, its relation to the cessation of saṃsāra, the five nīvaraṇas, the purification of the khandhas, and Nibbāna as a state of bliss. The third chapter turns to sīla as the first step of the path, explaining its meaning, its role as the foundation of the holy life, the precepts, its varieties, and its fruits. The fourth chapter studies samādhi through its definition, varieties, meditation objects, impediments, the role of the kalyāṇamitta, temperament-based practice, suitable places for meditation, rūpa-samādhi, arūpa-samādhi, and supernormal attainments. The fifth chapter analyzes paññā, including its substance, classification, proper foundation, paṭicca-samuppāda, and stages of purification. The sixth chapter returns to Nibbāna in greater doctrinal depth, discussing its stages, realization, relation to the laity, unity, negative and positive descriptions, indescribability, attributes, and the distinction between sa-upādisesa and anupādisesa Nibbāna.