Christianity & Buddhism
Nirvana and Salvation: Enlightenment and Grace
Both faiths point to a great liberation, and describe how to reach it very differently. Nirvana is the extinguishing of the fires of greed, hatred, and ignorance, the end of craving and of the cycle of rebirth. In Theravada it is reached chiefly by one's own disciplined effort along the path; some Mahayana schools (such as Pure Land) lean on the grace of a Buddha. Christianity teaches that salvation is a gift of God's grace, received by faith, not achieved by self-effort, into eternal communion with a personal God.
What Buddhism teaches
Nirvana (Pali nibbana, 'extinguishing') is the blowing out of the fires of greed, hatred, and delusion, the cessation of craving and release from samsara. In Theravada Buddhism, liberation is reached largely through one's own sustained effort, ethics, meditation, and wisdom. Mahayana Buddhism holds up the bodhisattva, who delays final nirvana out of compassion to help all beings, and some Mahayana schools (notably Pure Land, with its trust in the Buddha Amida) place great weight on grace and faith rather than self-power. Buddhism is not uniform here, and we note the difference.
What Christianity teaches
Christianity teaches that salvation cannot be earned; it is God's free gift, received by trusting him.
Where they meet
Both recognize a deep human bondage, to craving, sin, illusion, and both hold out real hope of liberation from it, not mere resignation.
Where they part
Theravada's path is largely one of self-liberation through effort; Christianity insists salvation is grace, God's gift, not human achievement. And the goal differs: nirvana is the extinguishing of craving and the self's release; Christian salvation is a restored, loving relationship with a personal God that lasts forever. (Interestingly, Mahayana Pure Land's trust in grace is the nearest bridge between the two.)
Buddhist sources: the Pali Canon (Sutta Pitaka) and the Dhammapada (F. Max Müller's 1881 public-domain translation where quoted). Buddhism is diverse (Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana); we note where traditions differ. Bible: King James Version. Every reference on this page was checked against its source.
The word itself
nibbāna (Pāli; Sanskrit nirvāṇa) → nirvana / 'extinguishing'
Nirvana means 'blowing out', the extinguishing of the fires of greed, hatred, and delusion, and with them the end of craving and rebirth. It is Buddhism's word for the great liberation.
Frequently asked questions
- What is nirvana in Buddhism?
- Nirvana (nibbana) means 'extinguishing', the blowing out of the fires of greed, hatred, and delusion, the end of craving and release from the cycle of rebirth. It is the goal of the Buddhist path.
- Is nirvana reached by self-effort or grace?
- In Theravada Buddhism, largely by one's own disciplined effort. Some Mahayana schools, such as Pure Land, emphasize grace and faith in a Buddha. Christianity teaches that salvation is entirely God's gift of grace, received by faith, not earned.
- How is Christian salvation different from nirvana?
- Nirvana is the extinguishing of craving and the release of the self; Christian salvation is a free gift of grace that restores a loving, eternal relationship with a personal God.
Come and see
Buddhism begins with an honest look at suffering; so does the Gospel, though it answers it differently. The most direct way to know Jesus is to read his words and watch what he does. There is no pressure here.
Read the Gospel of JohnWhy Jesus?Ask for prayer