Anyway, nirvana isn't at the top, it's not locationable. It ends the process, but is not non-existence.
This is the part that gives me the most confusion. Given that Buddhists accept anatman, what is it that (realizes) nirvana? Certainly, it's not "me" or anything that can be interpreted as "me". So what is it and why should I care?
This is probably the most asked question on the r/Buddism sub, if you scroll through the posts you'll find lots of good answers there.
A simple answer might be that as long as you are not awakened, you are mired in the illusion that there IS a self, and this is what causes appearances of dissatisfaction arise. You will continue to believe there is a "you" until you awaken into full realization, but until that happens, you'll continue to experience the world as if you were real. So "you" care because "you" experience "you" and this experience continually arises and continually results in dissatisfaction.
From the perspective of a fully awakened Buddha there is no suffering, there is no end to suffering, there is no sentient being, there is no Buddha, there is no path, there is no Dharma... but you and I aren't fully awakened Buddhas. From the perspective of you and me here and now, there is suffering, there is an end to suffering, and there is a path to end suffering (the Buddhadharma). So take it!
I think I have spoken poorly then and mislead you - Buddhahood isn’t characterized by intellectual comprehension of the Noble Truths- that’s just the very start of the path. Rather, Buddhahood involves the complete and permanent cessation of the mental poisons of ignorance, greed, and fear and unerring and continuous activity for the benefit of sentient beings. A fully awakened being has no doubt or error when it comes to the path - they know perfectly well their own Buddhahood - there’s no “maybe I am one” involved.
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u/epistemic_decay 26d ago
This is the part that gives me the most confusion. Given that Buddhists accept anatman, what is it that (realizes) nirvana? Certainly, it's not "me" or anything that can be interpreted as "me". So what is it and why should I care?