Dec 23 2007
4 Noble Truths of Buddhism
Many debate rather Buddhism is a religion or a philosophy. For me it has some truth in what it offers so I admire the message that is offered.
The core belief of Buddhism is the four noble truths:
1. All life is suffering
2. Suffering is caused by desire
3. Remove the desire and remove the suffering
4. Follow the eight fold path
The first means that a human life is full of suffering. We suffer the loss of love ones, we suffer when we experience poor health and sickness. We suffer a loss of love or a loss when we lose our worldly processions. We get depressed when we lose something we feel we can not live without. In the final suffering, we die.
The second one points out that all of the suffering is brought on because of of our own desires for happiness. We desire after both physical and mental happiness. “If I only get that new car, I will be happy.” The car does not provide the happiness you desired so you move on to the next thing or person to make you happy. The car will wear out and rust and it will not last forever. Attaching your happiness to such a thing means you are setting yourself up for more suffering. The same applies to sex, if you just need that sex to make you happy, it will not fulfill your need. The more you desire and get, the more you need.
The third states that if you remove the desire, you will remove the suffering. If you quite relying on other things to make you happy, you will lose the desire for those things and you will lose the hold they have on you. From releasing this desire you can be enlightened and achieve a state of Nirvana. This is a state of release and freedom. There will be no more fear, worry, troubles and you are in a true state of happiness. It also means you yourself are released from the world and it releases you from the chains of rebirth or reincarnation.
The fourth noble truth is a way of life that we all should strive for (Buddhist or not). It is the eight fold path:
1. Right view
2. Right Intention
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration
Basically, live your life the right way and watch at all time what you say and do.
Does this mean you can not enjoy pleasures we all know? No it mans that we should let them control us. Your happiness is inside you and not wrapped up in your desires. You can enjoy all of life both the good and bad without letting it effect your happiness.
We can learn a lot from what Buddhism has to say rather it is a religion or a philosophy.
The key is to respect others no matter what their belief is. If other treat you bad, say That Blozzz and move on for your happiness is not wrapped up in their opinion.
