Discussion on Buddhism
Discussion onBuddhism
Buddhism religion has a doctrine that guides their believers’morals and standards. Various arguments have been developed relatingto Buddhism ethics. However, the codes of conduct govern their dailyactivities, and cannot be disputed. The paper will discuss theBuddhism philosophy and ethics.
FourNoble Truths in Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths support the notion that human being is linkedto suffering. The first truth is Dukkha. It supports thathuman needs are incapable of satisfying. Human beings areunsatisfactory. The second truth is Samudaya, which is theorigin of human suffering. It claims that human beings sufferingsarise from thirst and clinging to temporary things. The thirstresults to karma that leads lack of satisfaction (Mikulas,59)
The third truth is Nirodha that stops the suffering. It stops thehuman thirst where Nirvana is gained and no more karma. Hence,there will be no more dissatisfaction. The fourth truth is magga.It also stops dukkha. It supports theNoble Eightfold Path, which guides inrefraining from dissatisfaction (Kaviratna,211)
Human experience is permeated by suffering. The claim can be truesince all suffering has a cause. It can be argued that selfishness,ignorance, jealous and frustration leads to suffering. The humaninteraction with other people makes them develop the wickedness. Inaddition, the suffering and the pain induced, provides a positive ornegative experience to the humankind. An example of real evidence ispoverty. Poverty causes suffering. Human beings after experiencingpoverty, work towards eliminating it. Hence, there is a positiveexperience, which makes human to strive so as to reduce pain.
However, it can be argued differently. The claim that humanexperience is permeated by suffering is wrong. Some life sufferingsincrease fear and torture. The suffering increases losses andstruggles of the humankind. The evidence is birth and death whereboth are causes of suffering. During delivery, a woman experiences alot of pain, but that does not make her refrain from having otherchildren. The evidence shows that human beings do not get experiencefrom the sufferings.
Desire as theRoot of Suffering
The statement shows that human desires are the source of all evils.The evils lead to human suffering and pain. The statement is correct.For instance, a human beings have strong desire for money. However,human wants cannot be satisfied. The great desire to have money makesthem move to unethical directions. The directions include criminalactivities and greed, which consequences lead to suffering.
However, it can be argued differently. Desires can lead to creation.Having a strong desire will lead to people being creative. It alsoincreases the human beings need to grow and develop. In addition,desire can lead to prosperity in life. The urge to succeed makeshuman being to strive to make their life better. The ideas in theNoble Eightfold Path can bring the end of human suffering. The ideasensure that everything is done with measurement. It reducesselfishness, greed and they lead to good conduct. Reduction of evilsin the society will eliminate the suffering of the human kind.
Problemof Evil
The statement that suffering exists in the world because of karma andtrans is correct. According to karma, it states that evil eventuallygets back to the wrongdoer. Hence, man creates suffering and theevils that were committed earlier usually recur to affect those whocommitted them.
NobleEightfold Path
The right view entails understanding the truth of things. It involvesunderstanding the human senses of touch, sight, and mind among otherswhen judging other things. The right intention refers todetermination and persistence. It shows no intention of harm. Thereis the path for right speech. It involves abstaining from false andmalicious speech. The path also dictates our inner thoughts. Inaddition, there is the path of right action. It involves abstainingfrom destroying life. The path discourages criminal cases or greed ofother people`s property. The right livelihood seeks happiness andwelfare in life. It involves having a balanced living and creatinggood relationship with others (Shonin,Edo, and William Van Gordon, 67)
The right effort will require people to avoid the negatives andcultivate the positives. While the right mindfulness involvesavoiding been judgmental and accepting the life experiences. The pathcreates peace and empathy. Finally, there is the right concentration,which refers to focusing one thing at a time. The importance of thispath is training mind for steadiness and overcome hindrances.
The right view requires a person to tolerate others. Toleratingothers creates better understanding among one another. The rightintention encourages people not to give up in their daily activities.In addition, the right speech encourages people to use politelanguages during communication. The right action reduces theft casesand robbery. Human beings are encouraged to depend on their effortand strive to earn a living. Similarly, the right livelihoodadvocates human beings to work hard to live happily. The right effortcompels human beings to develop positive mind, which reduces evil inthe society. Right mindfulness reduces evil thoughts that would leadto suffering. Finally, the right concentration makes people focus onwhat they are doing and leap out of it.
Stateof Enlightened Individual
It means people will be civilized thus no desire or greed. Peoplewill be satisfied with their resources, hence suffering will reducesince desire of having other people`s property will cease.
Nirvana is a situation where all desires and suffering disappears.The state protects people from committing evil that was driven by thestrong desires (Stover,1221).
The Buddha’s philosophy is valid, and they can help to controlpeople`s behavior. The philosophy discusses what is right andexpected from human behaviors. They condemn wrong actions and providea solution.
In conclusion, adherence to Noble Eightfold Path creates a life freeof evils. Upright people face no suffering, and they live happily. Inaddition, they create a good relationship between people thus peaceand harmony.
WorksCited
Kaviratna,Harischandra. "Dhammapada,Wisdom of the Buddha: Wisdom of the Buddha."
(2012): 211.
Mikulas,William L. "Fournoble truths of Buddhism related to behavior therapy." The
PsychologicalRecord 28.1(2016): 59.
Stover,James H. "Nirvana." Encyclopediaof Psychology and Religion.Springer US, (2014)
1220-1222.
Shonin,Edo, and William Van Gordon. "TheScientific Study of Buddhism and the Noble
EightfoldPath: Dividing the Whole into Many."(2014).67
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