Nirvana is an ancient Buddhist horn blowing practice in stupa worship carried out by Buddhist faithful’s in their shrine to receive miracles. Lopez elaborates on the origin and the initial application of the nirvana. According to Lopez, the extraordinary relics used to make the special musical instrument were mere buffalo horns. The significance of the stupa worship is demonstrated in a narrative where the Vipavsi Buddha explains to a visiting prince on the practice. The Buddha teaches that the practice of conducted in the holy month of Kartik. During the exercise if a person is circumambulating stupas or monasteries playing musical instruments and blowing the horn, they get good fortune alongside religious merit. This exercise. When one does the same offering gifts in the name of the dead, they will avoid adverse fortunes and also be reborn in a noble family. Suparaga Boddhisatva directed Rupavati to collect and also the use she would apply mortal remains from a buffalo. One horn would be implemented for circumambulating while the other would be used for offering water to the stupa. Gethin, on the other hand, considers Nirvana to be an experience very crucial in insight meditation. The meditation targets developing of insight as well as wisdom to comprehend the four truths as well as the three aspects of the nature of dukkha, anicca, and anatta. Gethin additionally explores all the stages that are used in the various types of insight meditation.
The chosen practice text was informed by the fact that it provides a practical application of the horn blowing exercise. The text provides information on the origins and original applications of the horn blowing exercise for the Buddhist religion. The detailed explanation of the origin and approach from a religious point of view also influenced my choice of the text.
References
Gethin, Rupert. 1998. Foundations of Buddhism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Lopez, Donald S. 1995. Buddhism in Practice. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
