Explain the Meaning of the Four Noble Truths - Essay Example

Explain the Meaning of the Four Noble Truths The First Noble Truth: To live is to Suffer Man is often seen to encounter suffering merely by virtue of living. When a child is born the child is effectively condemned to a life where they will face the pains of death and disease, sorrow and anguish because having a living body essentially means that they will often get tired and sick. This truth helps us understand that we should be realistic and seek to better understand suffering inorder to lessen it when it occurs (Molloy 133). The Second Truth: Suffering generally comes from Desire When Buddha took the time to analyze suffering, he found that it is often experienced due to our nature that is rarely satisfied what we may happen to have. The Sanskrit word “trishna” can invariably be translated to mean craving which is seen to suggest both the fear of loss as well as an addiction (Molloy 133). The Third Truth: To Ending Desire will End Suffering Although this truth is seen to generally contradict a number of western notions that encourage one to try and achieve every imaginable desire, its guiding principles are seen to essentially be true. Buddha himself left his family and possessions and taught his followers that their desire for any form of attachments would invariably result in their suffering. Although it might be impossible or difficult to change the entire outside world, I can be able to sufficiently change how I view the outside world by changing myself (Molloy 133). The Fourth Noble Truth: Release from Suffering is Possible The ultimate goal of the entire Buddhism religion is for one to be able to attain nirvana which suggest inner peace, liberation as well as the end of suffering. One is able to obtain self-control and not be driven by emotional forces. Buddhist followers are generally encouraged to try and follow the noble Eight fold Path as it is perceived that this will aid them in the attainment of nirvana (Molloy 134). What is Nirvana? As is often common in Hinduism, the outside everyday world that experiences constant change is also referred to as samsara in Buddhism. This term is seen to suggest both pain and decay and according to Buddhist teachings, one is able to eventually be liberated from Samsara by attaining Nirvana. It is widely believed that Nirvana is essentially a state where one is able to exist without experiencing any limitations. Although there exists a misconception among most individuals in the West who commonly think of nirvana as being a psychological state mainly because it is often described as helping evoke both peace and joy, nirvana is found to better be thought of as being generally indescribable and largely beyond all the possible psychological states (Molloy 139-140). Why is Nirvana Important? Although the actual attainment of nirvana is seen to occur rather rarely, it is generally theoretically very possible for one to be able to attain this much sought after state within their lifetime. Buddha himself is said to have only managed to finally entire nirvana at the time of his enlightenment. Most Buddhists seek to attain nirvana due to the promise of peace and contentment that is offered. Nirvana is also important as it effectively signifies the end of an individual’s circle of constant rebirth and death. It is a common belief in most cultures inclusive of Buddhism that one is essentially born a number of times before their current life (Molloy 139-140). What are the Basic Differences between the Theravada and the Mahayana Buddhists? Although Mahayana Buddhists and the Theravada Buddhists happen to share essentially similar core beliefs and have an essentially identical devotion to both the teachings and the life of Buddha, there a number of differences existing between the two branches of Buddhism. A key difference is that while Theravada Buddhism is found to be more widespread in the South East Asia regions and is widely believed to essentially be older and close to the original form of Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism is largely found to be spread towards the northern regions of Asia covering China and Tibet, this form of Buddhism is also found to have taken a number of local customs (Molloy 143-177). Another key difference between the two forms of Buddhism is that while the Theravada collection of the various teachings of Buddha is called the Pali or Tripitaka and is divided into three main groups, Mahayana Buddhism developed its own version of the Tripitaka which was essentially in Sanskrit. Their literatures were also seen to include an additional number of various written works (Molloy 143-177). While Theravada Buddhism is seen to place greater emphasis on Nirvana and practices a form of meditation that is mostly seen to be silent and mindful, Mahayana Buddhism is seen to give more prominence to the Bodhisattva path and generally practices a form of meditation that places more emphasis on chanting and mantras (Molloy 143-177). The Challenges of Happiness in Buddhism Some challenges to happiness that are seen to exist in Buddhism. These challenges can generally be overcome by one following the noble eightfold path. One of the key challenges to happiness in Buddhism is not having right understanding. If one does not have right understanding, they are unable to understand the mechanics of desire, the general impertinence of life as well as the general cause of all suffering. Another key challenge is found to be concerned with right intentions; this challenge encourages Buddhists to fundamentally have pure motives and thoughts that are not tainted by any selfish desires or emotions. Buddhists are also encouraged to ensure that they have the right work that does not cause any harm to either others or even the person himself. Buddhists also face the challenge of always ensuring that they practice the right meditation and contemplation, this always them to focus on awareness and cultivate a general state of inner peace respectively. The challenges of right speech and right action are seen to encourage Buddhists to avoid any harsh words or general exaggerations, as well as motivating them to constantly ensure that their actions do not cause any form of injury or hurt on human beings or animals, it also serves to encourage the Buddhists not to engage in any theft or sexual conduct that could potentially cause hurt (Molloy 136). Important Aspects in the Understanding of Buddhism There are several aspects that can be deemed to be essentially important in the understanding of Buddhism; one of these aspects is a general understanding of the beliefs in this religion. It is important for one to have a good grasp of the beliefs in this religion such as the concepts and principles behind the continuous wheel of life, Karma as well as the four major truths. Another key aspect would be for one to have an understanding of the ethics that are emphasized on by the religion, some of these ethics are seen to concern punishment, animals fighting and killing. Some customs, of the religion such as meditation, Buddhist worship as well as the creation and meaning of the Buddhist sacred sand mandala would also be of great importance for one to understand the Buddhist religion (BBC, 2013). An understanding of the religions’ history and holidays such as the Kathina, the Sangha day, the Wesak as well as the Dharma Day would be essential as they would help one have a deeper understanding of the religion. The Role played by the Thich Nhat Hanh and the Dalai Lama is also critical in the understanding of the key tenets and principles of the religion BBC, 2013). What is My Personal View of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism? My own personal reaction to the four basic truths as taught in Buddhism is that they are fundamentally sound. The fact that one is alive means that they will one day inevitably have to face the pains associated with suffering due to diseases and death. Anguish and sorrow are a daily part of life and we are better able to deal with them if we are well prepared. However, I do not necessarily fully agree with the Buddhist concept on desire as it is my belief that it is human to always desire more and although we can never fully achieve all our desire, we can however manage to attain some of them and hence live a relatively satisfied and comfortable life. Ending all the desire in the world would not necessarily automatically result in an end of suffering in the world (Molloy 133-134). The Elevation of Buddha by some Buddhists to the Position of God This accusation is found to be true in that although Buddhist tend to have a belief in there being a God, some of these Buddhists tend to follow the teachings and worship Buddha more than they actually worship their Gods. Buddhism branches like Theravada and Mahayana are seen to place more emphasize on the teachings of Buddha and the path that he laid out towards nirvana as opposed to placing more emphasis on God. Circles Wheels Mandalas. What is that all about? The concept behind the wheels circles and Mandalas in Buddhism is focused mainly on causing and inspiring greater devotion in Buddhists. The wheel of life in Buddhism helps Buddhists continuously worship even when working on the most mundane tasks. By spinning of the wheel while walking or pulling wheels that are sometimes as high as two stores, Buddhists continually fulfill an essential part of their worship rituals. Some of the wheels are variously seen to be erected on streams and are continually turned by the gentle motion of the water in a form of religious worship. The circles in Buddhism symbolize continuity as exemplified in the Buddhist belief that life is a continuous motion of birth, death and the subsequent reincarnation (BBC, 2013). The Mandala Sand painting is quite interesting as it has a very complex design and the monks are required to undergo years of training to master the design and techniques involved in designing the painting. The painstaking work of laying out each grain of sand individually is generally quite impressive and the final outcome is very beautiful (Youtube, 2010). In my opinion, the Buddhist principle of Merit making is essentially a very clever way by which Buddhism is able to ensure that its followers pursue all the principles and teachings of the Buddhist faith. Buddhist followers would generally be dissuaded from committing any bad actions as this would eventually influence the form that they would take in their next lives. Bad actions could cause them to take a small form such as that of an insect in their next lives while good deeds would help them attain nirvana. Works Cited Buddhism. Religion. BBC. 2013. Web. 19 June. 2013. Creation of a sand Mandala. Youtube. 2010. Web. 20 June. 2013. Molloy, Michael. Experiencing the World's Religions. McGraw-Hill Education, 2009. Print. Read More