Q2. Outline and discuss the four noble truths: is the Buddhist view of existence optimistic or pessimistic?
The question of the Buddhist view of existence being optimistic or pessimistic is one which is many have an opinion on. It could be said that the four noble truths provide the views of the Buddha in the way that life is led and more importantly, should be led. Certainly, the end goal is clearly optimistic, the attainment of spiritual enlightenment, or nirvana. However, the Buddhist view of life as we lead it is often deemed pessimistic as it is so concerned with suffering. As there is more than one school of thought to, "is the Buddhist view of existence of optimistic or pessimistic?" our understanding of these truths is crucial
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Pleasure, prosperity, success and fame are short-term gains. This is what the Buddha taught as the Second Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering - Desire (Tanha). Again these could be considered a very pessimistic view of the human condition. Nothing has any permanent meaning, life's hard and then we die.
Ignorance of the Buddha's teachings, might attribute all happiness and suffering to some external cause, believing that happiness and suffering come from the environment, or from the gods, and that everything that happens originates in some source outside of one's control. If one believes this, then it is extremely hard, if not impossible, to envisage eliminating suffering and its causes which is in itself an extremely pessimistic point of view. On the other hand, when a person accepts responsibility that experience of suffering is a product of what the self has done, that is, a result of personal karma, eliminating suffering becomes a real possibility. Buddhism believes that once awareness of suffering takes place, one can begin to remove the causes of suffering. This is the understanding of karma. Accepting responsibility for our own behaviour is an essential part of being able to change it, and a real source of optimism. The third noble truth is the cessation of suffering. Our cessation of suffering is something that we cannot depend on anyone else to help us with, because it is such a personal thing. The truth of "universal origination means that if our
The central problems plaguing existence, according to the Buddha, are outlined in the three marks of existence. The three marks of existence that apply to all existing beings are impermanence, suffering, and non-self (Hayes 2017-10-5). Humans are subject to ignorance about the three marks of existence, which is a central theme of the Buddha’s teachings. This ignorance results in suffering, and the removal of this ignorance results in the end of suffering (Hayes 2017-10-5). Therefore, ignorance of the three marks of existence can be regarded as the first link in the overall cycle of suffering, in which one must repeatedly live. Eliminating that ignorance through insight into the three marks will bring an end to this suffering, which can be achieved by following the Eightfold Path (Hayes 2017-10-10). Despite these instructions concerning the overarching problems of existence and the clear path to eliminating this suffering, the Buddha encourages one to accept his teachings only after thorough investigation, as understanding is the most important aspect of Buddhism. Thus, it is clear that the lack of ignorance is in many ways the answer to the end of the cycle of suffering and the achievement of nirvana, which is the ultimate goal of Buddhism.
Subsequently the second noble truth of Buddhism is the truth of the cause of suffering which
Critically discuss the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism, explaining the reasons or arguments given by Buddhism to support these Truths and discussing at least one objection that could be raised against the first Noble Truth and one objection that could be raised against thesecond Noble Truth.
The First Noble Truth describes that life is filled with suffering and that it is experienced by everyone. The Second Noble Truth clarifies that the dukkha, or suffering, is caused by the desire of private fulfillment,
The first truth is that life involves suffering such as having pain, getting old, and death. It can also describe painful emotions such as loneliness, and anger (Basic Buddhism, 1993). The second truth is that suffering is caused by craving and hatred (Basic Buddhism, 1993). Instead of being disappointed when others don’t meet our expectations, Buddhism teaches us to be content and happy with what we do have (Basic Buddhism, 1993). The third truth describes giving up useless things in our lives in order to achieve true happiness (Basic Buddhism, 1993). The fourth and final truth is that the Noble Eightfold Path is the one true path that leads to ending suffering (Basic Buddhism, 1993). The Noble Eightfold Path is a Buddhist concept of focusing on the mindfulness and intentions of our thoughts and actions (Basic Buddhism,
The First Noble Truth is that life is suffering. "Dukkha in Pali" stands for life is suffering, but what some people fail to realize is that an opinion that life is bad or suffering. In Buddhism it is realized that life being suffering is a reality to everyone and an outlook on life. As we go through life we lose loved ones to death, friends for many various reason, and etc. From the Buddhism perspective there is no way to escape the things in life that cause suffering and therefore looking for the "good things" in life or things believed to bring happiness are pointless. "Birth is suffering; decay is suffering; illness is suffering; death is suffering. Presence of objects we hate is suffering; separation from objects we love is suffering; not to obtain what we desire is suffering." (Young, 2005) Complete understanding of this First Noble Truth is important to be able to prosper along with following and understanding the proceeding Truths.
In Buddhism the Four Nobel Truths explain the root of humans problems, chief among these being suffering. While suffering is part of human life it does not always have a negative impact on one’s life. This suffering can be a force of good that propels people to do better and reflect on other people’s hardships. If one were to expel all their cravings and desires they would not have the drive necessary to achieve their goals and be a benefit to society. It seems that when you take away suffering the good things in life are not as meaningful and subsequently life become this drab meaningless existence. That’s not to say that meaningless suffering should not be negated with all haste but that you have to take the bad with the good. Contrarily, if one were to have less desires they would naturally live a simpler life that would not be as stressful and as filled with suffering.
The four Noble Truths were “taught in Buddhism as the fundamental insight or enlightenment of the Buddha” (Dr. Morris, lecture notes). The first Noble Truth is Dukkha, which meaning suffering or frustration. “Life inevitably involves suffering, is imperfect and unsatisfactory” (Living Religions, p. 110). According to Mary Pat Fisher, “happiness is not permanent” and “we all experience grief, unfulfilled desires, sickness, old age, physical pain, mental anguish, and death” (Living Religions, p. 110). Everyone experiences unfulfilled hopes and painful situations in their lifetimes. Some including the death of a loved one, divorce, arguments, and more. All of which are not pleasant and can lead to frustration and pain.
The Second Noble Truth is that the source of our suffering is craving and desire. When we look at psychological suffering, it is easy to see how craving causes it. The Second Noble Truth says that getting what you want does not
The key problem which Buddha identifies as the first of the “Four Noble Truths” is dukkha which is most often translated as “suffering” but which can also be translated as a sense of unsatisfactoriness, of unease, of insubstantiality, of emptiness. However, two points need to be made immediately. The first is that Buddhism does not to claim that existence ultimately has to be dukkha. The whole point of the third Noble truth, which is the cessation of dukkha, is that it is possible to reach a level of understanding which overcomes dukkha and that it is possible to attain Nibbana (Nirvana) in one’s lifetime. The second point is that Buddhism is not claiming that we never experience pleasure or moments of happiness.
Another principle belief of Buddhism is the Four Noble Truths which was established by the
The four noble truths stated that suffering could not be escaped. Birth sickness, senility and death are all occasions of suffering. Suffering can be either physical or psychological. One that is living an un- enlightened life is living in suffering. A major cause of suffering is ignorance. Someone who is manifesting as ego grasping is living an un-enlightened life. There is one only way suffering can be ended and that 's through the eightfold path.” Oxtoby, Willard Gurdon, and Amir Hussain. World Religions: Western Traditions. Willard Gurdon Oxtoby & Amir
The first of the three Noble Truths concerns the diagnosis of humanity. That is to say, all humans have a fundamental problem and that problem is suffering. This fundamental problem is not something that one can hide from or ignore. It is something that calls for reflection coming to terms with the brute fact that human existence is attached to suffering. Suffering is ubiquitous. That is to say, suffering pervades all of human life. Therefore, all persons must accept suffering as a mere fact of existence. Suffering consists of, physical, mental and emotional suffering. For example, physical suffering would consist of having a disease, or getting into an injury such as a car accident. Mental suffering would consist of one who experiences depression, sadness and the like from the death of a loved one. Moreover, when one experiences frustration and anger from not getting what they want such as a baby who is hungry and cries or a child at a store and their parents won’t buy them a toy. Emotional suffering is They have to take medicine to help their own body sustain itself. Buddha states, “This, monks is the Noble Truth of Suffering; birth is suffering; decay is suffering; illness is suffering; death is suffering; presence of objects we hate is suffering;
It is common sense that all the human beings would like to live a happy life and they will spare no efforts in order to realize the purpose of really living a happy life in the end. However, different people have different definitions toward what a happy life is and they tend to have different standards as for how a life is that can be regarded as a happy life. There is no doubt that people will then try different means in order to pursue a happy life based on their definition toward what a happy life is. Therefore, the following will talk about the pursuit of a happy life from the perspectives of both Dalai Lama in The Art of Happiness and Viktor E. Frankl in Man’s Searching for Meaning, during which the experiences of some characters from the film Forrest Gump will be applied as evidence. Generally speaking, the pursuit of a happy life in the minds of Dalai Lama and Viktor E. Frankl can be achieved via experiencing sufferings and adversity. It is hoped that this analysis can help people understand what a happy is from a different point of view.
The second noble truth implies to the origin of suffering or samudaya. In essence, there are causes to the suffering that man