Nirvāṇa and Ataraxia

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Tiago Simões
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Nirvāṇa and Ataraxia

Post by Tiago Simões »

Quick question, is it possible to translate nirvāṇa as ataraxia? Are they the same concept?
Ataraxia (ἀταραξία, literally, "not perturbed", generally translated as "imperturbability", "equanimity", or "tranquillity") is a Greek philosophy term used to describe a lucid state of robust equanimity that was characterized by ongoing freedom from distress and worry.

Achieving the state of ataraxia was a common goal for many Ancient Greek philosophies. As a result, the term plays an important role in many different Ancient Greek philosophical schools. The use of the term ataraxia to describe a state free from mental distress is similar throughout these different schools, but the role of the state of ataraxia within a philosophical school varied depending on the school's own philosophical theory. The mental disturbances that prevented one from achieving ataraxia often varied between schools, and each school often had a different understanding as to how to achieve ataraxia. Some schools valued ataraxia more highly than others. Three schools that often employed the term ataraxia within their philosophies were Epicureanism, Pyrrhonism, and Stoicism.
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Wayfarer
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Re: Nirvāṇa and Ataraxia

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There is a school of thought that Pyrrho of Elis, a Greek philosopher, travelled to India (actually, ancient Gandhara, which is nowadays the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan) and there studied with Buddhists. It is thought he brought back some of these ideas to ancient Greece, where he formed the school of 'Pyrrhonian scepticism' that remained influential albeit fairly obscure in Western philosophy.

Some references on that idea: Pyrrhonism: How the Ancient Greeks Reinvented Buddhism (Studies in Comparative Philosophy and Religion), Adrian Kuzminski

Pyrrho in India, Edward Flintoff

The Shape of Ancient Thought: Comparative Studies in Greek and Indian Philosophies, Thomas C. McEvilly.

Actually, the comparison that is usually made with ataraxia is not Nirvāṇa, but 'nirodha', meaning 'cessation'. Nirodha is certainly a key aspect of the Buddhist path, but it is not the final aim.
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Tiago Simões
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Re: Nirvāṇa and Ataraxia

Post by Tiago Simões »

Wayfarer wrote: Wed May 09, 2018 12:20 pm Actually, the comparison that is usually made with ataraxia is not Nirvāṇa, but 'nirodha', meaning 'cessation'. Nirodha is certainly a key aspect of the Buddhist path, but it is not the final aim.
I think those are synonyms, no? nirodha and Nirvāṇa?
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Re: Nirvāṇa and Ataraxia

Post by Wayfarer »

Not sure - perhaps. It’s not as well-known a term, but it might have the same meaning.
'Only practice with no gaining idea' ~ Suzuki Roshi
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Supramundane
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Re: Nirvāṇa and Ataraxia

Post by Supramundane »

Tiago Simões wrote: Wed May 09, 2018 10:53 am Quick question, is it possible to translate nirvāṇa as ataraxia? Are they the same concept?
Ataraxia (ἀταραξία, literally, "not perturbed", generally translated as "imperturbability", "equanimity", or "tranquillity") is a Greek philosophy term used to describe a lucid state of robust equanimity that was characterized by ongoing freedom from distress and worry.

Achieving the state of ataraxia was a common goal for many Ancient Greek philosophies. As a result, the term plays an important role in many different Ancient Greek philosophical schools. The use of the term ataraxia to describe a state free from mental distress is similar throughout these different schools, but the role of the state of ataraxia within a philosophical school varied depending on the school's own philosophical theory. The mental disturbances that prevented one from achieving ataraxia often varied between schools, and each school often had a different understanding as to how to achieve ataraxia. Some schools valued ataraxia more highly than others. Three schools that often employed the term ataraxia within their philosophies were Epicureanism, Pyrrhonism, and Stoicism.
short answer: No.

even if they have common traits, it would be misleading to translate them for various reasons. number one, they both come from different traditions and only exist in the framework of that tradition. it would be like translating 'epiphany' for 'enlightenment'. each finds its meaning in a specific context and they cannot be interchanged because of the linguistic 'baggage' attached to each.

second, you always translate for a specific reader in mind. who is your reader? would he be familiar with the term "ataraxia"? if not, you are not helping him out much with such a 'translation', from Sanskrit to Ancient Greek!

Ataraxia and Apatheia are terms from various Greek philosophical traditions, stoicism in particular. it is interesting that you bring this up because Stoicism and Buddhism share similar traits. However, the grim fatalism of stoicism doesn't resonate well with Buddhism, in my view. it teaches detachment, even to the point of apatheia. if you were to draw a Venn diagram, you would see that Stoicism and Buddhism would not be a perfect match, far from it. there would be some overlap, however.

for the translator, the challenge is to find synonymous terms. but for concepts such as Ataraxia and Nirvana, the best solution is to retain the original word and explain in a footnote or in square brackets. imagine if a translator preferred the term 'extinguishing' to 'nirvana' in a book; it would cause great confusion.
Simon E.
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Re: Nirvāṇa and Ataraxia

Post by Simon E. »

Another 'no' here.

But there might be mileage in comparing the meanings of 'ataraxia' and 'upeksha'.
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Re: Nirvāṇa and Ataraxia

Post by Knotty Veneer »

No I'd agree - ataraxia is not nirvana. Although the tranquillity that the Greek term suggests is certainly related to the enlightened experience.

I think that the Stoic term eudaimonia or "flourishing" is closer to describing the state of an awakened person but not having reached neither buddhahood nor attained the level of the stoic Sage, my answer is tentative only.
This is not the wrong life.
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