Nirvana is the extinguishment of all desire, delusion and ignorance. It is essential sprit of when the passion of life is true of death. It has been likened to the snuffing out of a candle, where the spirit is freed from all worldly passions; it is the realization that the Self does not exist, and that human desires are empty. An enlightened Buddhist is able to act in this world with complete detachment (without desire), and their actions have no karma. A Buddhist who has attained Nirvana has escaped the world of cause-and-effect (they are free from the cycle of birth and rebirth). The realization of Nirvana is a happy experience (but not the sensation of joy). Nirvana is fully realized at death, but can be experienced before death.
There are four stages in the Buddhist life:
1. The “Stream-Entrant” (novice) catches a glimpse of Nirvana, understands the concept of non-self and eliminates the possibility of being reborn in the lower realms of existence. (S)he also develops a strong faith in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha and will only be reborn a maximum of seven more lives.
2. The “Once-Returner” eliminates sensual desires and will be born into the human world only once more.
3. The “Non-Returner” after passing away from the human realm is born in the "Brahma" heaven, where the body does not exist as desire and delusion have been destroyed. After achieving this stage the person has already destroyed the first 5 fetters.
4. The “Holy One” (Arhat) is completely pure and free from desire, delusion and ignorance. That person has experienced Nirvana and will know it fully at death, when all matter, sensations, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness will disappear forever.
