People who have experienced returning to a personal god feel reborn in heaven. Those who have returned to the Godhead feel they have disappeared or merged with the universe. Most people would consider either of these experiences as liberation or nirvana. Some time ago, a Christian father used to come for intensive seven-day retreats. After the first retreat, he felt he was reborn. He had similar moving experiences on the second and third retreat. He stopped coming after that. When I asked him why, he said, “I have had enough experiences of being reborn.” Perhaps he thought that this was the limit of meditation, and that he had attained it.

Non-Buddhist path nirvana can be attained by one of two methods. The first is by invoking and receiving the help or grace of a deity. This method would work for attaining unity with a personal god. Actually, one does not merge with a god; rather, one lives in the presence or light of that god. Also, this method would not work for unifying with the Godhead. To attain that kind of non-Buddhist nirvana, one must practice. Practice includes cultivating merit and virtue by following the precepts as well as cultivating samadhi power. The reason why the first kind of nirvana is brought to a heaven, is not considered eternal from a Buddhist viewpoint. Further, it is questionable whether the god has even transcended samsara.

The second kind of nirvana is similar to the experience of dissolving into nature or expanding to a large self. Such an experience will also not last because the power of samadhi and the power derived from merit and virtue will wane.