Learning from the Dharma, understanding the Four Noble Truths, the three jewels, living according to the five precepts and following the eightfold path will witness the completion of the path of enlightenment. Nirvana, meaning to extinguish or dissolve, is when a Buddhist has reached a state where he has gained knowledge and freedom from that which prevented him from attaining nirvana. Be it passion, desire, jealousy, selfishness or ignorance. When nirvana is achieved, there will be complete liberation from samsara and karmic cycles.2. Compare and contrast Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. In Theravada Buddhism only Gautama Buddha (Sakyamuni) is accepted. Theravada accepts only the bodhisattva Maitreya. In Theravada Buddhism, the Pali Canon is divided into 3 Tirpitakasas: Vinaya, Sutra and Abhidhamma. The main emphasis of the Theravada sect is on self-liberation. It is interesting to see that Theravada has spread in the southern direction to include places like Thailand, Sri Lanka, Burma, Laos, and Cambodia. Tripitaka is written strictly in Pali according to the Theravada tradition. There is no distinction in the nirvana achieved by the Buddha and the Arahat Buddha in the case of the Theravada tradition. Rituals are not emphasized in the Theravada sect. It is important to note that the phase between death and rebirth is ignored in the Theravada school. The principle of one meal a day is
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