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The Buddha

The Buddha

2 full paragraph response.

How would the Buddha answer the question, “How should one live?” Do YOU agree with his answer? Why, or why not? Be very clear and specific. [Also: Feel free to use examples and be as personal as you feel comfortable.]

Write a response of Two full paragraphs.

please make it more as a personal response.

Philosophy 231: The Big Questions

Prof. Trogan

THE BUDDHA The Buddha(563 BCE- 483 BCE) AND EARLY (THERAVADA) BUDDHISM

I. Introduction

Life–born Siddhartha Gautama to a royal family in Nepal, isolated from the world by father, discovers suffering (disease, old age, death), and embarks on spiritual quest to find a solution to suffering

Studies under various Hindu teachers, practices extreme asceticism, almost dies, but finds no answer. Resolves to meditate under “Bodhi” tree until enlightened, succeeds, and founds an order of monks. (For a fictionalized and dramatic account of his life see Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha.)

 

Teaching –called “The Middle Way” (the mean between all extremes)

Four Noble Truths

Life is suffering–physical, psychological, and spiritual.

Cause of suffering is selfish desire and craving for existence which leads to ego-attachment.

There is a way to overcome suffering.

That way is the Eightfold Path:

 

(a) Higher Wisdom 

Right understanding of the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and the doctrines of impermanence, dependent origination, and associated ideas of karma, rebirth, and No-Self or No-Soul

Right thought (mindedness)–determination to renounce cravings without craving!

(b) Ethical Discipline

Right speech–be truthful and honest

Right action–don’t murder, steal, etc.–practice cardinal virtues of                               friendliness, joy, equanimity, and compassion

Right livelihood–an occupation that allows you to follow this path

(c) Mental Discipline

Right efforts–prevent evil thoughts, eliminate evil thoughts, preserve good thoughts

Right mindfulness–awareness of the rise and ceasing of bodily, mental, emotional, sensate, and conscious states

Right concentration–samadhi (concentration on a single point) leading to purified consciousness

 

 

 

 

Liberation (Nirvana)

Goal of Eightfold Path is cessation of suffering now (wisdom and tranquility) and release from round of rebirth after death

 

Samsara is impermanent (constant becoming). Humans are composed of the five aggregates (form, sensations, awareness of sensation, dispositions to act, and consciousness). When we, in our ignorance, react by trying to selfishly cling (stop change) the result is sorrow, suffering, death, and rebirth. The world we create out of ignorance is called samsara.  At its root is ignorance.

 

Nirvana is release from samsara. It is learning to live with change and to accept it (this is wisdom or enlightenment, the overcoming of ignorance). Nirvana in this life is living compassionately in accord with nature, in the sense that we do not artificially impose a subject/object distinction and then try to control the object in order to make it be what we want it to be. Ultimately nirvana is the cessation of rebirth.

 

 

…………………..Answer preview…………………….

Buddha is believed to be a god who has always given solutions to different problems among his followers. It is believed that Buddha provides solutions to problems by the use of quotes and theories. Buddha would answer the question by the utilization of the four noble truths of real life situation. The noble truths are suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering and way of practicing leading to the end of suffering………………………………………

APA

350 words