RELI-448N Week 3 Discussion: Buddhism - Different Discussions Well Explained

RELI 448N Week 3 Discussion: Buddhism Required Resources Read/review the following resources for this activity: • Textbook: Chapter 4 • Lesson • Minimum of 1 scholarly source Initial Post Instructions For the initial post, respond to one of the following options: 1. Define Theravada and Mahayana. Describe the Arhat and the Bodhisattva. Explain how each achieves the goal of nirvana. Examine how they relate to some of the key concepts/teachings (e.g., the Four Noble Truths, the three marks of reality). 2. Many scholars feel that "suffering" may be a misleading translation of the word dukkha. Why might the term suffering be misleading? What might be a better translation? What was the Buddha trying to explain in his commentary on dukkha? Manage Discussion Entry Hello Professor and class, Buddhism According to Wikipedia Dukkha is a term found in ancient Indian literature, meaning anything that is "uneasy, uncomfortable, unpleasant, difficult, causing pain or sadness". It is also a concept in Indian religions about the nature of life that innately includes the "unpleasant", "suffering," "pain," "sorrow", "distress", "grief" or "misery." The term Dukkha does not have a one word English translation, and embodies diverse aspects of unpleasant human experiences. It is opposed to the words sukha, meaning "happiness," "comfort" or "ease.” This includes physical and mental sufferings birth, aging, illness, dying; distress from what is not desirable (2018). There is no one single word that fully translate the word dukkha in Pali into English. Dukkha is used to include a range of suffering from mild frustration to horrible suffering (Molloy, 2015). Another word that I believe could be used instead of suffering would be sorrow or unhappiness. The Buddha believed life lived conventionally comes with the inevitability of change, thus it can never be fully satisfying. Life is ever changing, happiness, youth, wealth, prosperity constantly changes, none of these things last forever. Wealth, prosperity, happiness all changes, fluctuating or passing and death is inevitable. Buddha view life as inescapable experience of sorrow and dissatisfaction. Buddhism examines the types and causality of suffering in order to overcome it since it is inescapable. Buddhist goal is to respond appropriately by utilizing the Four Noble Truth and the Eightfold Path in order to overcome suffering. The noble truth is the chain of truth regarding life: 1) suffering exists; 2) it has a cause: 3) It has an end and ; 4) one can be released from suffering by following the Noble eight fold path. To live is to suffer and suffering is due to desires or cravings, always wanting something else or more, discontent, dissatisfaction or misery, to end suffering is to end desire and attainment of Buddhism’s ultimate goal nirvana. Nirvana is the extinguishing of the fires of desire, attaining complete self-control, end to karma, rebirth. To attain nirvana Buddhist believe in following the Noble Eightfold including all the eight rights, understanding, intention, speech, actions, works, effort, meditation and contemplation (Molloy, 2018). Buddha made it his aim to identify, explain and end human suffering using the Four Noble Truths as a method to adopt a diagnostic format to explain suffering and its cure; the 1st Noble Truth identifies the disease, the 2nd provides etiology, the 3rd gives a prognosis, and the 4th suggests a remedy. Buddhism is returning to this life, one’s own little life, with new attitude, a better person, calmer, more aware, someone without envy, greed or hatred with the knowledge that nothing is forever and grief is a price we pay for love, allowing oneself to enjoy life, who has given up envy and greed and hatred and such, who understands that nothing is forever, that grief is the price we willingly pay for love. Today the Western world has realized the psychological essence of Buddhism. Aich T. K. (2013). Buddha philosophy and western psychology. Indian journal of psychiatry, 55(Suppl 2), S: 10.4103/. (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. Retrieved from