Nirodha-Satya
By Ananta Kumar Nyaya-Tarkatirtha
Summary
This article examines the third Noble Truth, often translated as the truth of cessation (nirodha), which teaches that the end of suffering is possible. The author begins by defining nirodha not as annihilation but as the complete extinguishing of craving, hatred and delusion. He analyses Pali passages describing nirvāṇa as unconditioned, timeless and beyond conceptualisation. The article discusses how early schools understood nirodha differently – some emphasised a transcendental realm, while others portrayed it as a psychological state free from defilements. Drawing on commentaries, the author explains that nirvāṇa can be experienced in two ways: the remainderless cessation attained at death by an arahant and the cessation with a remainder experienced during life. The article also addresses debates over whether nirvāṇa is a positive state or a negation and considers later Mahāyāna perspectives that equate nirvāṇa with saṃsāra when seen from the standpoint of emptiness. The author concludes that understanding nirodha requires both doctrinal study and meditative realisation.
Conclusion
By clarifying the nuances of nirodha, the article emphasises that the cessation of suffering is achievable through the removal of mental afflictions rather than through metaphysical annihilation. The discussion of different interpretations encourages readers to see nirvāṇa as a living experience rather than an abstract concept.