Final answer:
Nirvana in Buddhism is not negative or self-annihilation but a state of ultimate peace and cessation of suffering by overcoming desires and attachments through the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
Step-by-step explanation:
The misconception that nirvana is negative and means self-annihilation stems from a misunderstanding of Buddhist philosophy. Nirvana is not about the destruction of the self but rather the realization and extinguishing of tanha (craving, desire) and, hence, the cessation of dukkha (suffering). This is achieved through following the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which guide practitioners toward ethical living, mental discipline, and wisdom.
In contrast to some Western perspectives that posit an enduring soul or self, Buddhism expresses the concept of anatman (no-self), indicating that what we tend to think of as the 'self' is in fact impermanent and in a constant state of flux. Moreover, nirvana is not a state of non-being but one of ultimate peace and liberation from the cycle of rebirth and suffering (samsara). It represents the highest spiritual attainment, where one becomes free from the karmic cycle of death and rebirth.Consequently, nirvana is positive in its essence, providing a path to spiritual enlightenment and the cessation of suffering rather than an annihilation of self.