Liberation

Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, India, where Gautama Buddha attained nirvana under the
Bodhi Tree (left)
Main articles: Moksha and Nirvana (Buddhism)

The cessation of the kleshas and the attainment of Nirvana (nibbna), with which the cycle of
rebirth ends, has been the primary and the soteriological goal of the Buddhist path for monastic
life, since the time of the Buddha.[57][133][134] The term "path" is usually taken to mean the Noble
Eightfold Path, but other versions of "the path" can also be found in the Nikayas.[note 18] In some
passages in the Pali Canon, a distinction is being made between right knowledge or insight
(samm-n a), and right liberation or release (samm-vimutti), as the means to attain cessation
and liberation.[135][136]

Nirvana literally means "blowing out, quenching, becoming extinguished".[137][138] In early

Buddhist texts, it is the state of restraint and self-control that leads to the "blowing out" and the
ending of the cycles of sufferings associated with rebirths and redeaths.[139][140][141] Many later
Buddhist texts describe nirvana as identical with Anatta with complete "Emptiness,
Nothingness".[142][143][144][note 19] In some texts, the state is described with greater detail, such as passing
through the gate of Emptiness (sunyata) realizing that there is no soul or self in any living
being, then passing through the gate of signlessness (animitta) realizing that nirvana cannot be
perceived, and finally passing through the gate of wishlessness (apranihita) realizing that
nirvana is the state of not even wishing for nirvana