Buddhism Paper The Four Noble Truths

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Buddhism
Buddhism depending on who you ask is a lifestyle or a religion. It was started by the Buddha who after nearly three decades of being protected from the suffering there is in the world, went out and experienced it. He sought to understand where the suffering comes from and is it truly possible to be happy if life is that unfair and full of suffering? These questions prompted him to go into a long meditation as he sought ‘enlightenment.’ After the long meditation, he came out and started preaching a new way of life anchored in the teachings he had discovered. They are mainly the three universal truths, the noble truths and the noble 8-fold path for everyone who wanted to be happy in the world. There are other aspects and precepts which make up Buddhism such as the way monks should live and conduct themselves. Steve Hagen has attempted to simplify Buddhism to the world by presenting its ideologies simplistically and demystifying its concepts such that anyone can understand. CITATION Ste131 \l 1033 (Hagen) has authored a book that attempts to simply Buddhism to the world. He claims to have written the book he wishes he had to learn Buddhism and thus he simplifies Buddhist concepts aiming to demystify the religion and help the readers to understand the religion. Hagen has split these teachings into three sections; the perennial problem, the way to wake up and free mind. The sections are centered on teaching the core concepts of Buddhism and notably the four noble truths and the eight-fold path that leads to enlightenment.
The Four Noble Truths
The first noble truth is Dukkha. Dukkha means that life is full of suffering. Life does happen to our expectations, and often we find ourselves either having outward suffering like sickness and bereavement or internal dissatisfaction caused by our desires and cravings. These innate desires are unending, and if they can be met, they are temporary, and if not temporary, they become monotonous. Concisely, suffering in the world is inescapable. Everyone will and must suffer in his life whether a king or a peasant. Thus, never imagine that another person because he/she has material things that he/she does not suffer or the acquisition of some material things, power or positions of influence can stop suffering.
The second truth is that suffering is caused by our desires (Samudaya). Human’s nature of craving things especially the things they do not have sucks out pleasure in life and leads to suffering. There are three main causes of suffering. First, greed and desire. These innate feelings rob us our peace of mind and contentment of our hearts as we glorify and chase that which we do not have rather than being satisfied with what we have. Secondly, ignorance and delusion cause suffering and the third is hatred and destructive urges. Buddha adds that these things can be overcome.
The third truth is that suffering can be overcome, i.e., there is a cessation to suffering (Nirodha). Buddha taught his disciples that the only way they could extinguish desires is by liberating themselves from attachments. Concisely, extinguishing desire, hatred and ignorance would liberate a person from the unending pursuit of unhealthy and unimportant things. Once an individual manages to extinguish and mute the source of the suffering, he/she is said to have reached nirvana. Nirvana is a state of enlightenment where any human can reach. An individual who has reached nirvana is full of joy and has power and control over the causes of suffering. Anyone who reaches nirvana is liberated from the cycle of birth and rebirth. This is the goal of Buddhism. Achieving nirvana is seeking your truth should be the goal of every person.
The fourth noble truth is the truth of the path of cessation of suffering (Magga). The 8-fold path is a set of principles that can lead an individual to nirvana. The process entails Right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right meditation. The eight stages can be grouped into Wisdom (right understanding and intention), Ethical Conduct (right speech, action, and livelihood) and Meditation (right effort, mindfulness, and concentration) CITATION Mar183 \l 1033 (Minnich).
The Eight-Fold Path
Right Understanding/view
Hagen argues that the way Buddha presented his view should be distanced from a hardline approach to certain things. In Buddha’s teachings, he encouraged his disciples not only to question his teachings but also to practice it themselves to find out their truth. So, the right view is the approach to issues considering that they are subject to change. According to Hagen, ‘The view of a Buddha is of how things are; which in the light of the constant flux (dharma) and flow of the world, is no one way in particular. ‘
Right Intention
A seeker of the truth according to Buddha must have the right intentions. It should be done for the sake of it. It is important for anyone who seeks to know the truth have the right mental framework and perspective to do it. Thus, to be fully liberated from your desires is the discipline and commitment to cultivate the right attitudes.
Right Speech
A seeker of the truth and a person yearning to get enlightenment should speak truthfully. He/she should also avoid insulting and slandering against other people. Additionally, they should not engage in gossip or speak ill of other people. Rather an individual should focus on telling the truth and avoid lying.
Right Action
It is good and important for anyone to behave peacefully and harmoniously with other people and his/her environment. Actions must be fettered from the right mentality and attitude and not subject to rigid though constructs. A seeker of enlightenment should refrain from killing and overindulgence in sensual pleasure.