Buddhism-Justin Wesson

     Buddhism traces its origin back to Siddhartha Gautama, the son of a wealthy family. He was shielded from the realities of the world, in particular the suffering of the world.  One day he went out to see the world and he was awakened to the reality of all the sufferings that go on during our lives, sufferings that he had been shielded from. Giving up the life of wealth for the life of a poor man, he went out into the world to find the cause of this human suffering and the solution. During this journey he became enlightened by taking the “middle way”, a way that was not of indulgence, nor asceticism.  Having become enlightened Siddhartha became known as Buddha. He started teaching the dharma way of living; a way that was free of extremes and open to all and that leads to enlightenment. In the teaching of Dharma are the four noble truths and the Eightfold path. These areas explore the cause of the human condition and the solution. The four noble truths are:

1.Duhkha- All of life is suffering; birth, life, death, and rebirth. Karma has in a sense trapped life in this cycle of suffering.

2.Tanha-Desire and cravings cause or suffering with our attachment to people and things not understanding the impermanence of these things

3. The third noble truth recognizes the need to rid our self of these desires and craving. One author I read said to extinguish the flames of our desires.

4.The fourth truth acknowledges the way to rid ourselves of these desires, the Eightfold path.

The Eightfold path points to the areas of one’s life that need to be completely free to desires and cravings. Each step is the “Right” way or the “true way”. They are right view, right intention, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. These are broken down into three areas: wisdom, ethics, and mental discipline. The Wisdom areas are right view and right intention. These areas deal with an understanding of life and the four noble truths. Right views isn’t so much as intellectual views as it is about understanding the world and right intentions and commitment to ethical and mental self-improvement. The ethics of the Eightfold path are right speech, right conduct, and right livelihood. The areas of the path that deal with mental disciplines are right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

                The Four Noble truths establish the problem of suffering and give the way to rid ourselves of suffering through the Eightfold path. To achieve the extinguishing of our desires and cravings is done though meditation, chanting, and following more of the Buddha’s teachings. Our desires and craving cause our suffering because they are impermanent; they too will pass away and/or let us down. We solve this problem by severing attachment to them, when we do this we are truly free. I find this belief very interesting and at times felt like I was hearing the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes.  I do believe that our attachment to thing can cause us suffering. Letting go of those things can at time feel like greater suffering but when we realize how free we are without it can bring great healing.