Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Buddhism a philosophy essay
A page and a half essay of buddhism
Buddhism a philosophy essay
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Buddhism a philosophy essay
The main goal of Buddhism is known as nirvana. Nirvana is the freedom from the cycle of birth and death, also known as the freedom of reincarnation. The way to achieve nirvana is by something known as the Noble Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path is the pathway between materialism and asceticism. In Buddhism, the Noble Eightfold Path is central because it is the way to achieve nirvana. The Buddha spreads his many beliefs and achievements throughout his life, discovers the meaning of The Eightfold Path, and explains how The Eightfold Path connects to the Nirvana.
Beginning in 566 B.C.E, the Buddha, known as Siddhartha Gautama was born not knowing that he would achieve such a multitude of greatness in his eighty years of life. The Buddha was born at Lumbini, which is known today as south Nepal. Gautama left his family and his rich and luxurious life to seek the cause of human misery. His journey lasted a extensive six years. As the Buddha continued on his journey, he came upon a Bodhi Tree, or another words “Tree of Awakening.” Coogan states that, “He seated himself beneath the tree for a final, determine effort to win freedom from death and rebirth.”1 This moment and time he experienced something known as enlightenment or “awakening.” He then discovered something known as the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths are teachings from the Buddha that explain the truth about suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering. The Four Noble Truths include: suffering is universal, suffering is caused by desire, in order to end suffering you must crush desire, and the only way to end desire is to follow The Noble Eightfold Path. According to C...
... middle of paper ...
... of what you do in life now will later on effect your fate of you future life.
The Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama achieved enlightenment and discovered the Four Noble Truths that then led him to the Noble Eightfold Path. The Buddha spreads his many beliefs and achievements throughout his life, discovers the meaning of The Eightfold Path, and explains how The Eightfold Path connects to the nirvana. In order to achieve enlightenment, you must start with the first step of following The Eightfold Path and will lead you onto nirvana.
Works Cited
Notes
1. Michael D. Coogan, ed., The Illustrated Guide to World Religions. (New York:
Oxford University Press, 2003), 170.
2. Coogan, 185.
3. Coogan, 185.
4. Coogan, 184.
5. Coogan, 185.
Bibliography
Coogan, Michael D., ed. The Illustrated Guide to World Religions. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.
The founder of Buddhism was a man named Siddharta Gautama. He was born as a prince of a small kingdom located near today’s Nepal, around 500 B.C.E. (Gurinder 1). According to the legends, Siddharta was raised in the lap of luxury. He was given the finest clothes, riches, and a mansion for every season (Fisher 136). Despite having anything his imagination could conjure, he was unconvinced of their value (136). As the story continues, he was presented with the four sights that were being kept from him (136). These sights included death, sickness, old age, and a monk seeking lasting happiness rather than material possessions (136). After these sights, Sidhharta began his long path to enlightenment. After six years of searching, he had reached his goal of an ultimate consciousness called Nirvana, or enlightenment that is above ordinary human states of mind (Gurinder, Numrich, Williams 1-2). After his discovery of the ultimate consciousness, he was given the title of Buhhda, which means “Enlighten One” (2).
Smith, Huston. World’s Religions: A Guide to our Wisdom Traditions. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1994.
first part of the Buddhist salvation. Knowing that all is futile and there is nothing externally that
A man of noble birth, living in the time before the Common Era, preached a way to extinguish the fire of self-centered delusion. This state of Nirvana can be achieved by understanding The Four Noble Truths, suffering in life, he explains can be avoided by following an Eightfold Path. Sounds simple? This must have been an awaking for people of his time seeking a more personal religion, away from the rigidities of a priest-dominated Hinduism of India. The man, the Buddha, spent the rest of his life teaching the religion he discovered and its doctrine based upon his Dharma (cosmic law and order). The first written evidence of the existence of Buddhism is found over 400 years ago after the life of the Buddha. (Kozak) Historians pose the
Oxtoby, Willard Gurdon., and Alan F. Segal. A Concise Introduction to World Religions. Don Mills, Ont.: Oxford UP, 2007. Print.
Oxtoby, Willard G., and Alan F. Segal. A Concise Introduction to World Religions. Oxford, Canada: Oxford University Press, 2007.
Oxtopy, W., & Segal, A. (2007). A concise introduction to world religions. (1st ed., p. 258). New York: Oxford University press.
Siddhartha Gautama is famously known as Gautama Buddha and was the founder of the idea of Buddhism. The Buddha was known to possess supernatural powers and abilities. He was born in the holy land of Nepal and his journey began in India when he decided to travel and teach himself about life. In the midst of his journey, he discovered Buddhism after he experienced a profound realization of the nature of life, death and existence. Buddhism became a religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama and since then Buddhism has been popular throughout many civilizations. Buddhism is now one of the most ancient religions in the world, where people follow Buddha, which stand for “awakened one,” and Buddhism which has gained popularity because of the teachings of the Buddha.
In addition, Buddhism places emphasis on the Four Noble Truths, which is the teaching of Buddha, a guide to enlightenment. These are a set of guidance that basically teaches the followers of Buddha the essence of...
Buddha believed that by following the Eightfold Path, one could fulfill and find legitimacy in the Four Noble Truths, and reach Nirvana; the release from selfishness and pain. Like the Hindu, Buddha believed in reincarnation, a major factor in achieving Nirvana, as...
Eastman, Roger. The Ways of Religion: An Introduction to the Major Traditions. Third Edition. Oxford University Press. N.Y. 1999
The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism capture the ethos of the spirituality and its teachings. By just these four lessons, Buddha preaches the principles of tranquility within meditation, not mere concentration. From these truths he developed a guidance referred to as the Eightfold Path, a series of principles that lead to awakening when practiced and understood. He preaches that inevitable suffering comes from desire, however he concludes with a solution to a life lived in nirvana. The first two of the Four Noble Truths are Dukha and Avidya, focusing on the primitive presence of suffering within day to day life.
The four noble truths exemplify the essence of the teachings of Buddha. They represent the beginning of a long journey to inner peace, happiness, and most importantly an end to suffering. Seven weeks after the Buddha reached enlightenment at a place called Sarnath, in India, he gave his first teaching. This is referred to as setting the wheel of Dharma in motion. (Rahula 27). It was here where Buddha first spoke of the 4 noble truths and solidified them as eternal parts of life.
Hopfe, L. M., & Woodward, M. R. (2007). Religions of the World (10th ed.) New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Organ, Troy Wilson. Eerdmans' Handbook to The World Religions. Woodbury, NY: Barron's Educational Series, 1974. Print.