Buddha
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Buddhism is a faith that was founded over 2,500 years ago in India by a man named
Siddhartha Gautama, or “the Buddha” (Sharisse, 2020). Buddhists do not acknowledge a god,
but instead strive to achieve enlightenment and freedom from suffering (History.com, 2017).
Before Siddhartha Guatama was referred to as “The Buddha”, he was the Prince of the Sakya
clan and lived a very leisurely life. He was shielded from all forms of suffering until the age of
twenty-nine when he encountered “The Four Signs'' (Keown, 2020). The first three signs
consisted of Siddhartha Guatama’s exposure to an old man, a sick man, and a corpse, which all
represented suffering (Keown, 2020). The final sign was when Siddhartha saw a recluse
meditating. This recluse lived in peace despite being in a world with so much suffering (Keown,
2020). These signs inspired Siddhartha to go on a religious quest in search of a way to live life
without suffering. Siddhartha spent 6 years on this journey of enlightenment during which he
explored many forms of mediation, which included yoga and asceticism (Keown, 2020). After
finding these practices inadequate, he followed his own form of meditation called “The Middle
Way”, in which he spent forty-nine straight days reflecting under a bodhi tree (Sharisse, 2020).
This allowed him to properly reflect on the experiences that shaped his life. The insight he
gained through this form of meditation provided him with the basis for understanding what
suffering is, why it happens, and how to eliminate it (Keown, 2020). When he found this
enlightenment he devoted his life to teaching the ways to overcome suffering (Keown, 2020). An
important component of his teachings are The Noble Fourfold Truth. The aim of this paper is to
discuss the first three truths: The truth of what suffering is (duhkha), suffering is caused by
attachment, and that suffering can be eliminated by eliminating attachment (Sharisse, 2020).
The first noble truth identifies that life is suffering. Buddha refers to this as “duhkha”,
which translates as "suffering”. This is not meant to impose a negative world view, however, old
age, sickness, and death are unavoidable (History.com, 2017). These forms of suffering
correspond to the first three signs that Buddha saw during his journey outside his palace
(History.com, 2017). These are identified by Buddha as ordinary forms of suffering and also
include pain, unsatisfied desires, breakups, and the absence of happiness (Keown, 2020).
However, the problem of suffering goes much deeper, and the next level is the resistance to
change that causes additional suffering (Keown, 2020). Buddha does recognize that there are
moments of happiness and pleasure throughout life, but explains it is temporary (Sharisse, 2020).
Additionally, when in a state of fulfillment there is a level of sorrow in knowing it is provisional,
and a sense of stress knowing that suffering is soon to come (Keown, 2020). Human beings
create a sense of attachment to these various pleasures of life (Keown, 2020). This creates a life
of unfulfillment, and a beginningless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (Keown, 2020). The
deepest level of suffering is the attachment of a self to the five processes of existence (Keown,
2020). Existence consists of five aggregates, which are physical, sensation, perceptual,
volitional, and consciousness (Keown, 2020). People are interrelated to these processes, and thus
connected and constantly changing (Keown, 2020). Suffering is created when people deny this
and attempt to maintain a separate and unchanging self, and therefore forming attachment to
these processes (Keown, 2020). This is the truth of suffering.
The second noble truth is suffering caused by attachment. As discussed above there are
moments of happiness in life (Keown, 2020). However, even when they are content the
satisfaction is temporary, which causes human beings to crave and desire these moments
(Keown, 2020). The human desire for constant happiness and pleasure is a central driving factor
towards suffering (Keown, 2020). People form an attachment to trying to attain certain aspects of
life, while trying to avoid others (History.com, 2017). These cravings cause people to go to
extremes in order to achieve what they desire (Keown, 2020). Buddha explains that some
cravings can be innocent, like wanting food when you are hungry or relief when in pain (Keown,
2020). However, when desire causes greed or selfishness it becomes a major factor in suffering
(Keown, 2020). This second truth goes more in depth over the concept of re-existence and never
being able to achieve satisfaction (Keown, 2020). Ultimately, this is a deeper craving for a
separate and permanent attachment to various processes of life, which creates a sense of greed
(Keown, 2020). In trying to achieve this people attempt to grasp onto pleasures in life because
they believe this will allow them to be separate and unchanging (Keown, 2020). However, as
explained in The First Noble Truth this is impossible because people are interrelated to all
processes, and can never be in a permanent state. Therefore, this noble truth explains that
suffering is caused by cravings that can never be attained.
The Third Noble Truth is how to end suffering. The Buddha taught that the way to end
suffering is to liberate oneself from attachment (Keown, 2020). If cravings result in suffering,
then these cravings must be eliminated to achieve freedom from suffering (Keown, 2020). One
of the reasons there is suffering is because of a lack of knowledge as to the true nature of
existence in regards to how people are constantly changing and interconnected to all processes
(Keown, 2020). The elimination of suffering is referred to by Buddha as Nirvana, which means
“extinguished” (Sharisse, 2020). Nirvana is a state of mind that humans can reach that consists of
freedom from suffering and desire (Keown, 2020). Buddha says nirvana allows for a peaceful
and joyous life to be lived (Keown, 2020). It is also achieved when there is an understanding of
one's connectedness to processes and the aspect of constant change (Keown, 2020). It represents
the final goal of Buddhism. Someone who is enlightened is free from the cycle of rebirth, but
Buddhism does not explain what happens after death (Keown, 2020).
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The Three Noble Truths contain the essence of the Buddha's teachings. During buddha's
meditation under the bodhi tree he was awakened to these four principles, which includes the
truth of suffering, the truth of the origin of suffering, and the truth of the cessation of suffering
(Keown, 2020). Buddha preaches a faith that teaches others what suffering is, why it happens,
and how to eliminate it (History.com, 2017). He exposes the true nature of existence, which is
interconnected to all human processes and constantly evolving (Keown, 2020). People must
understand that living in a permanent state with a separate sense of self is unattainable. Once
people understand this they can free themselves of suffering and greed, and achieve nirvana
(Keown, 2020). These first three noble truths really encapsulate a deep understanding of
suffering.
Works Cited
Keown, D. (2020).
Buddhist ethics: A very short introduction
. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Sharisse, K. (2020).
Buddhist ethics
[PowerPoint slides]. Western New England University.
History.com Editors. (2017, October 12). Buddhism. Retrieved May 01, 2021, from
https://www.history.com/topics/religion/buddhism
(History.com, 2017)