Questions Of Meaning/Purpose Of Buddhism

682 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The similarities and difference between Buddhism and Christianity

3. The question of meaning/purpose.
In Buddhism, the primary purpose of life is to end suffering. Buddhists believe that humans suffer because tend to continually go after things that do not have everlasting happiness. We desperately try to hold onto things such as friends, heath, and material things and this does not last. This causes sorrow. Buddhists believe that its okay to seek joy in life, but to understand that these things do no last and that attachment to these things only cause more suffering. The Buddhism solution to this problem was to understand that these things were not permanent and to free themselves from the attachment of these things (Meaning of life, 2015).
The greatest commandment is to love the lord our God with all our …show more content…

Some of them include not killing, stealing, lieing, and committing adultery. Christians believe in good and evil, heaven and hell, God and Satan. While Christians choose to believe in God and all of his teachings, we are taught to be aware of Satan and what could happen to us after death if we do not love and obey God. Christians believe in being saved from their sins and granted eternity in Heaven. God teaches us to love Him and to love our neighbors, and to treat everyone with love, honesty, and kindness (Powell, D., 2006).
5. The question of destiny.
Buddhism does not believe in fate or destiny. The believe that anyone who believes in fate will not have a happy life and anyone who does not believe in fate will have ahappy life. Buddhists believe all things arise from the mind. They believe that the only way to progress is through right view, right living, and right practice. Buddhists believe that if you believe in fate, then your life will go in circles, but if you do not believe in fate, then you can take each day and start anew (Chan Newsletter).
According to a biblical worldview, God has bigger plans for us. If we live our lives the way God planned for us, then we will be saved and it is our destiny that we ascend into Heaven after death. Christians believe in destiny. They believe in the destiny God has planned for us, but we must stay on the correct path in order to fulfill our destiny (Powell, D.,

Show More
Related

  • Suffering In Buddhism In Stephen Prothero's God Is Not One

    775 Words  | 2 Pages

    Similar to Hinduism, the cycle of rebirth is undesirable and life is marked by suffering in Buddhism (p.177). Suffering is referred to as dukkha and Buddhism seeks to end suffering through nirvana.While techniques vary, Buddhists share common core beliefs. Suffering is the problem and nirvana is seen as the

    Read More

  • DBQ Essay On Religion

    643 Words  | 2 Pages

    Buddhism teaches that humans have a repetitive cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth. Each reincarnated life is decided into a better, worse, or a similar life, depending upon the person's Karma. The goal is to escape from this cycle and reach Nirvana, and once this is attained, the mind is free from suffering. Buddhism teaches a lesson through its followers in order to make them fully understand that one lives for a reason, which is to eliminate all their desires. Document 6 it quotes,

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Hinduism And Buddhism

    697 Words  | 2 Pages

    Buddhism was originated in India in the fifth century B.C.E by Siddhartha Gautama. In today estimation there are about three hundred and seventy six million followers, which is the sixth most practiced religion in the world. The founder of this religion was born a Kshatriya, which was the military or ruling class in the caste system. The caste system is a Hindu tradition. Buddhist does not believe in this system. Instead Buddhist believes in the four noble truths. The four noble truths teaches that everyone suffers, selfish desires causes suffering, suffering can be overcome by destroying selfish desires, and if man follows the Eightfold Path, he will destroy selfish desires and end all suffering. Buddhist also believes in Nirvana which is a release from selfishness and pain. Karma is also part of the Buddhist belief. Karma is interpreted in many ways around the world. But in the Buddhist religion Karma refers to the good and bad actions a person does in his or her life. The good actions will bring about good things in the future. Unlike the good actions, if...

    Read More

  • How The Television Entices Me To Break The Ten Commandments

    785 Words  | 2 Pages

    The First Commandment. The first commandment is Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

    Read More

  • Buddhism and Christianity in the same light

    663 Words  | 2 Pages

    While Nirvana is the ultimate spiritual attainment, most ordinary Buddhists show their commitment to the Buddha through several religious practices. The basic motives behind Buddhist practices mirror with those behind the Catholic tradition (Seay (2001,p.58). Both traditions aim to create togetherness within their community by developing a sense of communion with all present through a group activity. Some of these activities include group prayer/meditation and group singing/chanting. Another motive behind some Buddhist and Catholic practices is the principle of suffering, a significant element of religious tradition. This principle was formed on the basis of the suffering endured by Saddartha Gutama and Jesus Christ and is put into practice through traditions like achieving Nirvana and Le...

    Read More

  • Judaism vs. Christianity

    343 Words  | 1 Pages

    In Christianity, the emphasis is placed on love of God rather than on obeying his will. People must believe that God is merciful and loves them as well. As a reflection of God’s love, people must also love other people (and the whole humanity in general) and forgive their enemies.

    Read More

  • The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism

    775 Words  | 2 Pages

    first part of the Buddhist salvation. Knowing that all is futile and there is nothing externally that

    Read More

  • Buddhism and Islam

    1683 Words  | 4 Pages

    Both these religions have basic beliefs that are relatively different from each other. Buddhists on one hand believe in karma, rebirth, dharma and moksa. Karma is "cause, effect and the law which equilibrates the two" . It is the consequences of every action, whether good or bad. This action-reaction may take effect anytime, may be in the current life or not. Rebirth is inter-connected with karma. If one did more good things than bad in his life, his karma will lead him to a life of better condition than the previous one. Dharma is the basic concept of the religion; that is the Buddhist teaching, also meaning the nature of existence. Lastly, moksa refers to the renunciation of the world, which is parallel to the Hindu belief in the importance of asceticism and meditation .

    Read More

  • Death from a Buddhist and Christian Point of View

    1091 Words  | 3 Pages

    So in all actuality, Buddhist believe that every day on earth, people should live with good positive feelings, positive thinking, positive attitude. As Buddhist people suggested, life is practice. One can not be happy in the after life unless one takes the advantage of their life on earth.

    Read More

  • Key Differences Between Christianity and Buddhism

    1825 Words  | 4 Pages

    Although Buddhism and Christianity show several parallels, their three key differences are that Buddhists do not believe in one divine being, and have different views about both the purpose of life and the concept of afterlife. Buddhists do not believe in a Supreme Being, God or Creator, though many Buddhists today worship the Buddha - the central figure of Buddhism - and his teachings. They view him as someone with a universal spirit, an essence that can be attained by everyone rather than only a higher deity that rules over the world (Brown). Especially in Mahayana Buddhism, the concept of the Buddha nature is fundamental (“Pure Land”).... ...

    Read More

  • Kierkegaard: "Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself" as a Basis for Ethics

    2450 Words  | 5 Pages

    "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." [Matthew 22:37-40, AV]

    Read More

  • Buddhism and Western Psychology

    2137 Words  | 5 Pages

    I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. Whether one believes in religion or not, whether one believes in this religion or that religion, we all are seeking something better in life. So, I think, the very motion of our life is towards happiness (Dalai Lama & Cutler, 1998, p. 15).

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Four Noble Truths Of Buddhism

    656 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...on but always from desire. People will not admit that nothing ever lasts, thus it is shunned and therefor beauty is left unappreciated. The philosophies of Buddha influence cultures and civilizations across the globe to embrace evolving, but to do so with celebration and optimism. If all positive was stationary, there would be little value which gives us nothing to live for. Each day should be lived by moving on and accepting the next obstacle, while still appreciating the fortunate past and enjoying the immediate presence. Without recognition of pain and sorrow, there is no initiation for solution. According to Buddha, one must accept suffering and live based on the laws of the Eightfold Path in order to achieve salvation. Because of the Four Noble Truths, people have been given a structural opportunity of hope that there is reason to live our lives to the fullest.

    Read More

  • Homosexuality as a Sin

    1062 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mark 12:30-31; You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

    Read More

  • The Greatest Commandment

    2250 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Greatest Commandment “to love God” is the first and greatest commandment of all. In researching this commandment I have found that to love God is truly what God really wants from all of us. The commandment is referenced in all four of the gospels of the New Testament as well as being referenced in the Old Testament through the Ten Commandments in which the New Testament was based on. This commandment is so powerful it is found in Luke 10:25-37, Mark 12:28-34, John 13:34-35 and Matthew 22:34-40. It is also found in Deuteronomy 6:5 and also based on the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:1-17. Take for instance the gospel of Matthew in where the New Testament begins with the book of Matthew revealing the fulfillment of the prophecies in Jesus Christ, the long-awaited Messiah. Matthew was a Jewish tax collector for the Roman government who was called upon by Jesus to become one of the 12 apostles which often in his gospel will give us an eye witness account. Matthew wrote the gospel while living in Antioch, Syria after following Jesus between the years of A.D. 50-70. Matthews’s gospel provides an essential link between the Old and New Testament. Matthew 22:34-40 teaches us of the greatest commandment and what God wants from us foremost. In the scripture of Matthew 22:34-40 where this commandment is told by Jesus to the religious leaders, the Sadducees and the Pharisees who were attacking him and challenging him with one of the Pharisees in particular who was a lawyer decided to test Jesus in hopes of embarrassing him by asking: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” (NIV, Matthew 22:36) Knowing that this was a difficult question because of the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament in which all are from ...

    Read More

More about Questions Of Meaning/Purpose Of Buddhism

Open Document