Buddhism/ Clacey Farley

When I think human condition in Buddhism my mind goes to the cycle of life, suffering, death, and rebirth. Humans live, toil away at life, they get sick and then they die. It is the human condition to suffer and to crave things in this world. This craving, this personal, very individual obsession leads to unhappiness. However the human has no “soul” so while rebirth happens one would have no recollection of past lives lived. So the point of being human, having a condition, is to realize you have no condition. You are inconstant and it is important to live this life as well as you can because you only get it. So the solution to the craving would be to remove yourself from it. Get in touch with the bigger higher you that doesn’t crave or want things it knows will not last. The solution to suffering is enlightenment.

In order to let go of earthly craving and attain enlightenment, one is instructed essentially to be compassionate. The four noble truths and the eight fold path are what the enlightened one, the Buddha, instructed his followers to live by. It seems that to become enlightened one must spend extended periods of time with oneself. Meditating, understanding ones own thoughts and demons and joys. One must take time to completely explore the mind and then come to the understanding that our reality is relative. Once enlightenment is achieved one is free from the constant cycle of death and rebirth and simply ceases. I really like this aspect of Buddhism. It isn’t eternal, there is an end, and eventually we just stop. I suppose consciousness dies with the body but it’s a nice change from the conventional desire to live forever. The simplicity of you live, you die is appealing.

I think the best way to use Buddhism in our lives if to remember everyday to live life because this is what we get. We can help others daily. Do things just because they are right. Hold doors for people and smile at strangers. Instead of focusing in on things we don’t like in our fellow beings we can see what good they expel. In our lives we can remember that life is just life, we can play the game. Enjoy the good limes, roll with the bad times because we know nothing will stay forever. All things pass. Its important to remember that death is a part of life, and not shy away from it. I think Buddhism places importance with accepting death.  “When we are born we cry, and our loved ones rejoice. When we die our loved ones cry and we are free,” it is a comforting thought.  After all we are all we have in this world, and death will always be the last great adventure. It is good to know it to will end.