Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Buddhism a philosophy essay
A page and a half essay of buddhism
Buddhism a philosophy essay
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Buddhism a philosophy essay
The main goal of Buddhism is known as nirvana. Nirvana is the freedom from the cycle of birth and death, also known as the freedom of reincarnation. The way to achieve nirvana is by something known as the Noble Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path is the pathway between materialism and asceticism. In Buddhism, the Noble Eightfold Path is central because it is the way to achieve nirvana. The Buddha spreads his many beliefs and achievements throughout his life, discovers the meaning of The Eightfold Path, and explains how The Eightfold Path connects to the Nirvana.
Beginning in 566 B.C.E, the Buddha, known as Siddhartha Gautama was born not knowing that he would achieve such a multitude of greatness in his eighty years of life. The Buddha was born at Lumbini, which is known today as south Nepal. Gautama left his family and his rich and luxurious life to seek the cause of human misery. His journey lasted a extensive six years. As the Buddha continued on his journey, he came upon a Bodhi Tree, or another words “Tree of Awakening.” Coogan states that, “He seated himself beneath the tree for a final, determine effort to win freedom from death and rebirth.”1 This moment and time he experienced something known as enlightenment or “awakening.” He then discovered something known as the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths are teachings from the Buddha that explain the truth about suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering. The Four Noble Truths include: suffering is universal, suffering is caused by desire, in order to end suffering you must crush desire, and the only way to end desire is to follow The Noble Eightfold Path. According to C...
... middle of paper ...
... of what you do in life now will later on effect your fate of you future life.
The Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama achieved enlightenment and discovered the Four Noble Truths that then led him to the Noble Eightfold Path. The Buddha spreads his many beliefs and achievements throughout his life, discovers the meaning of The Eightfold Path, and explains how The Eightfold Path connects to the nirvana. In order to achieve enlightenment, you must start with the first step of following The Eightfold Path and will lead you onto nirvana.
Works Cited
Notes
1. Michael D. Coogan, ed., The Illustrated Guide to World Religions. (New York:
Oxford University Press, 2003), 170.
2. Coogan, 185.
3. Coogan, 185.
4. Coogan, 184.
5. Coogan, 185.
Bibliography
Coogan, Michael D., ed. The Illustrated Guide to World Religions. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.
Smith, Huston. World’s Religions: A Guide to our Wisdom Traditions. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1994.
Buddhism in India was born and would eventually rank as the world’s fourth major religion. The Buddha preached his first sermon in Deer Park, still a definitive text for all Buddhists. He proposed a path to enlightenment very different from the elaborate ceremonies and colorful myths attached to the Hindu deities of his youth. The Four Noble Truths: Recognizing and understanding suffering, letting go of self-centered cravings, realizing liberation, and cultivating the path. (Gach) Pain is inseparable part of mankind’s everyday life, our cravings of all kinds are the cause of this pain, and the way off this treadmill is to free oneself of these cravings. This can be achieved by following the Eightfold Path of: Right view, thought, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration. The goal is to break the cycle of reincarnation based on your Karma and to reach Nirvana, the final goal of Buddhism. (Gach) The Buddha said that desire is the cause of suffering, and any kind of over indulgence may lead to addiction. Addicts and alcoholics are experts on desire; addiction is desire run rampant. (Griffin) In his book, Buddhism and the Twelve Steps, Kevin Griffin relates the steps with the practices of
The founder of Buddhism was a man named Siddharta Gautama. He was born as a prince of a small kingdom located near today’s Nepal, around 500 B.C.E. (Gurinder 1). According to the legends, Siddharta was raised in the lap of luxury. He was given the finest clothes, riches, and a mansion for every season (Fisher 136). Despite having anything his imagination could conjure, he was unconvinced of their value (136). As the story continues, he was presented with the four sights that were being kept from him (136). These sights included death, sickness, old age, and a monk seeking lasting happiness rather than material possessions (136). After these sights, Sidhharta began his long path to enlightenment. After six years of searching, he had reached his goal of an ultimate consciousness called Nirvana, or enlightenment that is above ordinary human states of mind (Gurinder, Numrich, Williams 1-2). After his discovery of the ultimate consciousness, he was given the title of Buhhda, which means “Enlighten One” (2).
first part of the Buddhist salvation. Knowing that all is futile and there is nothing externally that
Buddhism originated from India, and was founded by Prince Siddharta Gautama, who later came to be known as Buddha, or the enlightened one. Born of a princely caste, he later renounced his comfortable life in search for nirvana. In order to do that, he joined a band of ascetic, who was a group of Hindu priests. In his teaching, the Buddha taught his followers to follow "the middle way", that is, not the way of extreme asceticism. He attained full understanding of the nature of being by meditation and after his success, decided to impart his knowledge to those who follow him .
Oxtopy, W., & Segal, A. (2007). A concise introduction to world religions. (1st ed., p. 258). New York: Oxford University press.
The founder of Buddhism was a man called Siddhartha Gautama, born to a wealthy family and destined for greatness; Siddhartha, however, left his family and the palace in search for religious truth and an end to suffering. Siddhartha tried many ways of reaching an enlightened stage; wandering the forest, joining the beggars, fasting, debating with religious leaders, but when none of these methods brought him a greater understanding of the world, Siddhartha sat himself down under a fig tree, and meditated. After forty-nine days of meditation Siddhartha was said to have achieved an understanding of the cause of suffering, he then became known as the Buddha, enlightened one.
Siddhartha Gautama is famously known as Gautama Buddha and was the founder of the idea of Buddhism. The Buddha was known to possess supernatural powers and abilities. He was born in the holy land of Nepal and his journey began in India when he decided to travel and teach himself about life. In the midst of his journey, he discovered Buddhism after he experienced a profound realization of the nature of life, death and existence. Buddhism became a religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama and since then Buddhism has been popular throughout many civilizations. Buddhism is now one of the most ancient religions in the world, where people follow Buddha, which stand for “awakened one,” and Buddhism which has gained popularity because of the teachings of the Buddha.
Eastman, Roger. The Ways of Religion: An Introduction to the Major Traditions. Third Edition. Oxford University Press. N.Y. 1999
Oxtoby, Willard G., and Alan F. Segal. A Concise Introduction to World Religions. Oxford, Canada: Oxford University Press, 2007.
The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism capture ethos of the spirituality and its teachings. By just these four lessons, Buddha preaches the principles of tranquility within meditation of mere concentration. From these truths he developed a guidance referred to as the Eightfold Path, a series of principles that lead to awakening when practiced and understood. He preaches that inevitable suffering comes from desire, however he concludes with a solution to a life lived in nirvana. The first two of the Four Noble Truths are Dukha and Avidya, focusing on the primitive presence of suffering within day to day life. The other two are Nirodha and Magga, contributions to having faith that solvents for all suffering do exist and how it is accomplished. The combination of each understanding is a simple recipe to ultimate salvation, hence the contribution to development of self awareness and happiness within cultures across the map.
The four noble truths exemplify the essence of the teachings of Buddha. They represent the beginning of a long journey to inner peace, happiness, and most importantly an end to suffering. Seven weeks after the Buddha reached enlightenment at a place called Sarnath, in India, he gave his first teaching. This is referred to as setting the wheel of Dharma in motion. (Rahula 27). It was here where Buddha first spoke of the 4 noble truths and solidified them as eternal parts of life.
Oxtoby, Willard Gurdon., and Alan F. Segal. A Concise Introduction to World Religions. Don Mills, Ont.: Oxford UP, 2007. Print.
Hopfe, L. M., & Woodward, M. R. (2007). Religions of the World (10th ed.) New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Organ, Troy Wilson. Eerdmans' Handbook to The World Religions. Woodbury, NY: Barron's Educational Series, 1974. Print.