Parinirvana – The Departure of a Practitioner
When a monastic passes away, we don’t say they have passed away, died, or gone. Instead, we use the term “parinirvāṇa”.
- “Pari” means completeness, fulfillment.
- “Nirvana” means stillness, peace.
For a monastic, after a life of practice, when they depart, they no longer cling, nor are they attached, and they reach a state of complete stillness.
Meditation – The Cause of Peace and Stillness
A person who meditates and practices mindfulness is planting the seeds of stillness and peace.
- “Stillness and peace” is the joy of being in complete calm and serenity.
- When one achieves stillness and peace, they can live in peace, no matter the circumstances.
A person who reaches stillness and peace has two qualities:
- Joy in solitude – They don’t feel lonely or empty.
- Peace amidst the crowd – They blend into the hustle and bustle but their mind remains undisturbed.
Applying Peace and Stillness in Life
A person who has attained inner stillness and serenity can find happiness no matter where they are.
- You don’t need to retreat from the world to find peace, because you can live among the world, amidst laughter and noise, amidst praise and blame, yet maintain inner peace.
- Happiness does not depend on circumstances, because joy comes from within, not from external sources.
For example:
- In a crowd, people laugh, and you laugh too, but your mind remains deeply still.
- When you’re alone, with no one around, you still feel the peace and joy, and do not feel lonely or sad.
Final Thought
- A practitioner’s departure is not loss, but parinirvana – reaching complete stillness and peace.
- Meditation and mindfulness practice help one achieve peace – the joy of stillness.
- Stillness and peace are not about avoiding life, but learning to live serenely amidst all circumstances.
- One who has achieved peace and stillness, no matter where they are, with whom, or in what situation, can always find peace and happiness.
Stillness and peace are not about leaving the world behind, but living in the world without being controlled by it.
This article is compiled based on a sermon by Venerable Thích Pháp Hoà
The Original Dharma Talk
What is parinirvāṇa? and its meaning – Venerable Thich Phap Hoa
Below is his original lesson:
Viên Tịch Là Gì? Ý Nghĩa Của Viên Tịch – Thầy Thích Pháp Hoà
