Are significant numbers drawn to Buddhism for the promise of immortality in Nibbana?

[rockyysdt]

We have learned that Nibbana is a state not a place.

 

Having said that, why do most turn to Buddhism?

 

Apart from core Buddhist teaching, the practices prescribed  could also apply to many  pursuits and philosophies, and is not exclusive to Buddhism.

 

Such things as Yoga, Health, Therapeutic self hypnosis, Praana, and, a host of other pursuits too numerous to mention.

 

I know that the Buddha taught Awakening.

The quenching of desire resulting in the cessation of suffering, as there is no longer any craving left to generate re birth.

 

My question is, are most drawn to Buddhism for the promise of eternal existence in the state of Nibbana?

 

If it's not, isn't re birth, with its bouts of suffering, better than cessation of re birth, which suggests annihilation?

[VincentRJ]

On 2/26/2025 at 5:56 PM, rockyysdt said:

We have learned that Nibbana is a state not a place.

 

Having said that, why do most turn to Buddhism?

 

Apart from core Buddhist teaching, the practices prescribed  could also apply to many  pursuits and philosophies, and is not exclusive to Buddhism.

 

Such things as Yoga, Health, Therapeutic self hypnosis, Praana, and, a host of other pursuits too numerous to mention.

 

I know that the Buddha taught Awakening.

The quenching of desire resulting in the cessation of suffering, as there is no longer any craving left to generate re birth.

 

My question is, are most drawn to Buddhism for the promise of eternal existence in the state of Nibbana?

 

If it's not, isn't re birth, with its bouts of suffering, better than cessation of re birth, which suggests annihilation?

 

Hi Rocky,
I don't know why most people turn to Buddhism, who haven't been brought up in a Buddhist culture. One would need to conduct a widespread, world-wide poll to find the answers.

 

However, I suspect that those in Western countries, who do not have a religious faith, and who are agnostics or aetheists, find that Buddhism, in relation to the basic teachings of Gautama, is a rational alternative to religious dogma, and many of those basic teachings accord more with the understanding of modern science, than other religions do.

 

A couple of examples are: "nothing is permanent, and everything is subject to cause and effect."

 

As I understand, the term Nirvana refers to the extinction of greed, ill will, attachment to things and the delusions in the mind, which are the cause of the various types of suffering that most of us experience to some degree. 
The concept of 'eternal existence in the state of Nibbana' seems contradictory to the basic Buddhist concept that there is no permanent soul or self.
 

[Brucenkhamen]

On 2/26/2025 at 8:56 PM, rockyysdt said:

My question is, are most drawn to Buddhism for the promise of eternal existence in the state of Nibbana?

 

 

The Buddha didn't promise eternal existence, some people seem to think he did but I think this is a fundamental misunderstanding of his teaching.  Some people are drawn to this idea but I think most others religions explicitly promise eternal life so maybe they'd be more comfortable with one of those.

 

Nibbana is the cessation of craving, including the craving to continue to exist as a future me.

[Rick45]

On 2/26/2025 at 2:56 PM, rockyysdt said:

My question is, are most drawn to Buddhism for the promise of eternal existence in the state of Nibbana?

 

5 hours ago, Brucenkhamen said:

Nibbana is the cessation of craving, including the craving to continue to exist as a future me.

Exactly this.

 

Eternal existence isn't the focus of Buddhism.  It's not like Christianity that way.  Buddhism teaches to live in the present moment and not desire anything more than you have at the present moment.