Nirvana, bliss and ananda

Recently, a Facebook friend asked whether Buddhism can really help us rid of suffering in a complete and permanent manner. After all, isn’t that the “selling point” of Buddhism to the general public — that it can solve the problem of suffering for you? Further, isn’t the Noble Eightfold Path the way to end all suffering? Many Buddhists believe that the person who has realized Nirvana will have rid of suffering forever. Doesn’t this smack of a…