What Are The Four Noble Truths

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Throughout history, human beings have spent their lives trying to find answers to life’s purpose, the creation of the universe and what happens after death. Will a single answer ever be found? Is there only one answer? These questions have led humans to believe there is a higher being who is in control of everyone and everything. These questions form the basis of the goals of all religions. Religion is set of beliefs and values regarding the cause or foundation, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies. ( Dictionary.com , paragraph 1 ). 
 Through the doctrinal and philosophical, material and ritual dimensions, a Buddhist is offered a way to a world beyond the everyday …show more content…

These four noble truths allow Buddhists to gain a better understanding of life through their connection with the Buddha. The first noble truth, the truth of suffering, is that life is frustrating and painful. We need to be honest with ourselves, there are times when it is downright miserable. Although life can be miserable, there are things that can brighten up our lives. This truth allows people to learn and connect through the beliefs of the Buddha, and learn that life can be painful, but there are good times which we remember forever. (http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/intro_bud.htm, paragraph 5). The second noble truth is that suffering has a cause. As humans, we suffer because we are constantly struggling to survive as we attempt to define ourselves. Therefore, the second noble truth allows people to learn and connect through the beliefs of the Buddha and inevitably gain a better understanding of life. (http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/intro_bud.htm, paragraph 6). The third noble truth means that the cause of suffering can be ended. Our struggle to survive, our effort to find …show more content…

Buddhists build stupas, beautifully pointed shaped towers, which accommodate sacred remains, and symbolically represents the “enlightened mind of the Buddha.” The tower represents five elements. The base represents the earth, the cone-shape represents the harsh fire, the rounded dome represents the pristine water, the canopy of the tower represents the air of the air and the volume of the stupa represents space itself. The Begging bowl symbolizes the occasion or event when a young woman named Sujata offered the starving Siddhartha Gautauma a bowl of milk-rice, which he then accepted for the reason because he needed more physical strength to reach enlightenment. The bowl represents the Buddhists’ monk's lifestyle by surviving and living off of what people place into their bowls as they move and travel from their monastery into local villages. The base platform represents the earth that embodies 10 virtues and beliefs that a Buddhist practices: protect the sanctity of life, be generous, live a moral and good life, tell the truth, speak in a calmly and gentle manner, be content in any situation no matter what the circumstances, be unselfish and maintain your faith. The first three steps of the Stupa represent three spiritual anchors for your mind and soul: the Buddha, the achieving of Buddha, the Sangha (those who practice the

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