the ultimate goal of Buddhism

The ultimate goal of Buddhism is Nirvana, a state of mental peace and purity and anything that leads one in that direction is good.

the highest state one can attain

For Buddhists, nirvana is the highest state one can attain, and all life can take a very long time to reach this state.

a state of being often associated with Buddhism inwhich

Nirvana is a state of being often associated with Buddhism inwhich a person attains freedom from desire.

a radical transformation

But nirvana is a radical transformation of how a radical transformation feels to be alive: a radical transformation feels as if everything were myself, or as if everything---including 'my' thoughts and actions---were happening of itself.

a transcendent state of enlightenment and tranquillity in Buddhism

“Nirvana” is a transcendent state of enlightenment and tranquillity in Buddhism.

a Buddhist Sanskrit word describing the stopping of the process sustaining conditioned states and self-realization of Nirvana the unconditioned state

NirvaNa is a Buddhist Sanskrit word describing the stopping of the process sustaining conditioned states and self-realization of Nirvana the unconditioned state.

a radical transformation of how a radical transformation feels to be alive

But nirvana is a radical transformation of how a radical transformation feels to be alive: a radical transformation feels as if everything were myself, or as if everything---including 'my' thoughts and actions---were happening of itself.

the ethereal plane of enlightenment, reached when a soul has gained enough wisdom to free itself from the cycle of reincarnation

In Buddhism, nirvana is the ethereal plane of enlightenment, reached when a soul has gained enough wisdom to free itself from the cycle of reincarnation.

the ultimate happiness (, Dhammapada 203)—free from change, free from deathfree from all limitations

As the Buddha said, nirvana is the ultimate happiness (Dhammapada 203)—free from change, free from death, free from all limitations.

the highest state that someone can if you're a Buddhist monk, nirvana may take you years of meditating to reach nirvana

In Hinduism and Buddhism, nirvana is the highest state that someone can if you're a Buddhist monk, nirvana may take you years of meditating to reach nirvana.