Forum: buddhism.stackexchange.com
Tags: <nirvana><samsara>
Title: Possibility of nothing but all-encompassing, absolute Nibbana without Samsara? If so, is sustainability possible (and how)?
Question: Is nothing but all-encompassing, absolute Nibbana without Samsara possible? If so, is sustainability possible (and how)?

Answers:
sents: text: I think that nibbana is defined as the end of suffering -- which occurs with the end of craving (as defined by the noble truths).
text: The end of craving happens (permanently) when the various causes of craving up uprooted -- the causes of craving include e.g. anusaya and asava and so on.
text: This uprooting can be permanent in the same way that when a palm tree is cut then it won't grow again .
text: Conversely, Samsara is a cycle of existence -- the pratītyasamutpāda doctrine (i.e. the doctrine of the 12 nidanas ) says that cycle (including further birth) is conditioned by craving -- and so does this description : “Mendicants, transmigration has no known beginning.
text: No first point is found of sentient beings roaming and transmigrating, hindered by ignorance and fettered by craving.
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/254/ChrisW
score: 2
sents: text: Interesting question.
text: You assume a fundamental division but we are told (for instance by Rumi) '
text: the two worlds are one'.
text: My guess or conceptualisation would be that Samsara and Nirvana are co-dependent and reduce to Unity.
text: This would suggest that Samsara and Nirvana are dual-aspects thus inseperable.
text: Just pondering out loud.
text: This is beyond my pay-grade.
text: I'm not even sure this language is appropriate.
text: EDIT:
text: No wait.
text: This is not beyond my pay grade.
text: Samsara and Nirvana are said to have a dependent-existence and to not really exist.
text: Nagarjuna proves it.
text: The truth would be beyond intellection or conceptualisation and to entail the dissolution of all conceptual opposites including Samsara and Nirvana.
text: So the short answer would be 'no'.
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/None/
score: 2
sents: text: It's not so much: is it possible to have Nibbana without Samsara?
text: That is just how it is.
text: Positive is accompanied by negative, yin and yang, pain/trouble and peace/bliss.
text: The goal is to be more towards Nibbana, and step out of the way of, or avoid being in Samsara.
text: Beings learn by falling into Samsara, and deciding not to go back there!
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/11918/Brendan Darrer
score: 1
sents: text: Buddhism doesn't define the extremes; Samsara's beginning and end is not apparent.
text: So, if it's not apparent you question is, according to Buddhism, wrong question.
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/14416/Epic
score: 1
sents: text: Sure, that's what the path of the Noble One is all about.
text: While the question "is sustainability possible (and how)?
text: " is of no need.
text: It's the very nature of Unbond that it does not require any sustainability, entertainment, is free of "under holding", holding on, requirement of support.
text: For one who as fulfilled the task.
text: [Note: this is a gift of Dhamma , not thought for trade, stakes, exchanges or other gains subject toward decay and should be deleted if it's not giften to give in Dhammic conditions]
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/14411/Samana Johann
score: 1
sents: text: This kind of questions comes simply because, you have mixed your understanding about Buddhism with Science.
text: Science made by humans to solve day to day problems, but Buddhism isn't.
text: Believe or not dharma is the explanation for everything.
text: So don't let your mind to ask such questions about the Nibbana, see this thread also to get some brief idea about Nibbana.
answer_details: author: buddhism.stackexchange.com/users/12123/PL_Pathum
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
It could be that Samsara and Nirvana are co-dependent and reduce to Unity. Samsara and Nirvana are said to have a dependent-existence and to not really exist.
Samsara and Nirvana are thought to have a dependent existence and to not really exist.