In Buddhism, the path to Nirvana involves overcoming which of the following?

In Buddhism, the path to Nirvana is fundamentally about overcoming desire and attachment. These are considered the root causes of suffering, known as dukkha. The teachings of the Buddha emphasize that attachment to worldly pleasures, relationships, and material possessions can lead to a cycle of rebirth and suffering known as samsara. The Four Noble Truths outline this understanding, identifying that suffering arises from craving and attachment.

Buddhism teaches that to attain Nirvana, which is the state of liberation and ultimate peace, one must let go of these desires and attachments. This is reflected in the practice of the Noble Eightfold Path, which guides followers on ethical conduct, mental discipline, and wisdom, all aimed at reducing and eventually overcoming desires that bind them to suffering.

The other options, while relevant to various aspects of Buddhist philosophy, do not specifically encapsulate the primary struggle on the path to Nirvana. Selflessness, for instance, can be a trait cultivated through the overcoming of desire, but it is not an obstacle in itself. Ignorance of the world is addressed in the context of seeking wisdom, which aids in overcoming desire, but it is not the central concern of limiting one’s suffering. Natural instincts