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Monday, December 28, 2015

Buddhism

The first basic understanding of Buddhism is that Buddhism does not focus on worshiping gods. Rather, the religion is a journey for one to take to reach enlightenment.

At the heart of Buddhism is the Four Noble Truths. 

Four Noble Truths
The first Noble Truth is Suffering: Life ultimately leads to suffering. Suffering includes birth, aging, illness, death, sorrow, pain, despair, separation from what is pleasing to oneself, not attaining what one wants, etc. 

Four Noble Truths 

The second Noble Truth is Accumulation of Suffering: This is also referred to as the origin of suffering which is considered to be craving something that leads to pleasure, lust, and delight. Cravings are considered to be the cause of suffering. 

Four Noble Truths
The third Noble Truth is Elimination of Suffering: Giving up the craving in the Second Noble Truth and relinquishing it. 

Four Noble Truths
The fourth Noble Truth is the Path that Leads Away from Suffering. This truth is the way that leads to the end of suffering and is also called the Noble Eightfold Path. The path that leads away from suffering consists of having the right intention, right action, right concentration and right mindfulness in each day. 

The Noble Eightfold Path
The path to ending suffering, which is the Buddha's fourth Noble Truth, is divided into eight sections.

Understanding the Noble Eightfold Path
All eight elements of the Path begin with the word Samyanc, or translated into being 'Right'. This meaning, is to be understood as completeness, togetherness, and coherence. Some suggest a clearer translation, would in fact begin each element with the word 'Perfect' instead of 'Right'. 

The Noble Eightfold Path
The eight elements of the Eightfold Path are: Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and lastly Right Concentration. 

Nirvana
Reaching Enlightenment is the ultimate goal of Buddhism. The meaning of Nirvana, which can be translated to 'cessation', is specifically the ending of suffering and the end of the cycle of birth and rebirth.

 

 

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