Does Nirvana really means stopping of birth and death? Does it ensures that no new one will arise again? Buddhist theories all summed up to the point of Nibbana. They have reached the goal, gone there(Tathagat). They conclude holy life is lived and goal attained. Cessation of becoming(No new formation).
But, when asked, Do Tathagata exist after death? is absurd question. It is that our individuality arise and ceases. So, why the buddhist assume there is stopping of birth and death?
Tathagata is synonym for ocean, where waves are arise and passes away, which we calls individuality.
Tathagata is the root of Tree of Samsara. It's branches and leaves are species and karmic stations respectively. So, when one attain to the root, the whole tree(Samsara) appears as mere bubbles or foam, rising and falling, absolute impermanent.
So, having so, why do they preach after attaining the Root, one attain freedom form birth and death?
They are not. Because from root, a new one is formed and rolled on, in this continuous existence.
That's why, its been asked by some of recluse of higher wisdom, Do Tathagata (the one who goes to that, the one who ceases) exist after fall of body and life? Buddha answered: Silence!
I feel that doesn't stop the new creation or new forming of individual. Hence I conclude, there is no such freedom from birth again. Why?
My assumption is that, the one who arise and ceases, doesn't exist in reality! It's like dream of someone else's and dream can't be true or real. It's only the dreamer tends to be real.
Tathagata(gati of the one)literally means to merge in Brahman. The dreamer. And see this universe as mere dream. So,it appears that no new dream arise after cessation of current dream, but not so. You can control the dream but not the dreamer. The Brahman.
That's why in Indian village, Saint Chokha says, 'What a miracle! The God of god is gone mad!' He is saying about Brahman.
Also in Bhuridatta Jataka, The Arhats said the same thing. ,
Nirvana/Kensho/Satori is only a &quot;goal&quot; as long as you haven't experienced it. The experience conveys the one-ness, emptiness and interconnectivity of all phenomena. In some Buddhist schools, this is referred to as &quot;the Great Death&quot;, as this reveals the &quot;I&quot; as an illusion.
But from that point onward, attainment has been achieved and is no longer the &quot;driving goal&quot; of practice. In Zen, for example, this is illustrated in a sequence of drawings called the &quot;Oxherding Pictures&quot;. The first nine pictures illustrate the stages toward attainment. The tenth however, shows the practitioner:


10. Return to Society Barefooted and naked of breast, I mingle with the people of the world. My clothes are ragged and dust-laden, and I
am ever blissful. I use no magic to extend my life; Now, before me,
the dead trees become alive

A good book about life after attainment is Jack Kornfield's &quot;After the Ecstasy, the Laundry&quot;.
As to whether attainment stops the cycle of birth and death, the answer depends on what you ask is being born and dying. If you ask for the &quot;I&quot;, then attainment will show this &quot;I&quot; to be an illusion. If you ask it for the emptiness of all phenomena, the most honest answer is &quot;we do not know&quot;. &quot;I&quot;