Nirvana in Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhism: A Comparative Philosophical Study
Journal of Humanities and Education Development January 1, 2026 Dorji Phuntsho
Nirvana is consistently associated with the cessation of craving, ignorance, and suffering across Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhism, but its interpretation differs. Theravada emphasizes the realization of non-self and the unconditioned state as the culmination of disciplined insight and ethical practice. Mahayana reinterprets Nirvana through the doctrine of emptiness and non-duality, highlighting the inseparability of Nirvana and samsara. Vajrayana presents liberation as the recognition of awakened awareness through esoteric practice, symbolic methods, and transitional states. The paper suggests that Nirvana is a dynamic and evolving concept shaped by doctrinal, experiential, and historical contexts.