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Buddhism vs. Islam
What is the purpose of life? Life holds different meaning for people across the world; such different perceptions on life are framed by religious beliefs. Such meanings and significance be divided into two groups. There are people for whom the significance lies within the world we live in and then there are those who would like to believe in life after death and the entire notion of heaven (Shun 1995, 240). Those belonging to the first category can be further divided into three groups: those who perceive life in terms of family, those who belief life is all about love for country and lastly those for whom life is about mankind. The latter concept appears in religion; it is used by almost all religions to signify the meaning of life (Shun 1995, 242). Taking the latter notion into account, the paper investigates and draws on teachings and verses to show that Islam and Buddhism converge and conform to the same point when it comes to defining the purpose of human life.
One thing I teach: suffering and the end of suffering. --The Buddha (Woodward 2002, 283)
Buddhism denies that there is any "permanent and absolute significance" of life; for Buddhists life is "unsatisfactory and void" (Shun 1995, 243). For Buddha, life and world are "dependent originated." What is this concept of "dependent originated"? It is depiction and a representation of a human lifecycle or different cycles within a single lifetime. These different cycles can include addiction to something, marriage, being involved with something and so forth. This cycle or loop comprising of desires and temptations can end; however, everything has to begin with ignorance (Hardy n.d.).
According to Buddha's teachings, birth or rebirth (the starting point to a cycle) begins with ignorance. Ignorance is followed by will, will...
When a body or person gains consciousness, a person becomes aware of the six senses. Use of these senses gives birth to desires and desires lead to clinging. Clinging begets birth that is followed by old age and subsequently death (Hardy n.d.). What a person does in one lifetime has repercussions; his/her actions in one lifetime have bearing on his/her status and lifestyle in the next one. It is a case of cause and effect (Shun 1995, 11).
Suffering might arise as a result of dependent originated. However, Buddha teaches that salvation is attainable if a person gets rid of ignorance. Ignorance prevents investigation of causes leading to such sufferings in the first place. Every cycle has a personal identity to it, problems arise only when people start thinking that life is permanent and a cycle cannot be broken (Hardy n.d.).
What is the purpose of life in the light of Buddha's teachings? The purpose of life is to eliminate ignorance that pervades life; ignorance that prevents the quest for salvation, ignorance that bequeaths suffering. The purpose of life is to escape from ignorance and suffering; the purpose of life is to burn the desires that lead to the process of rebirth. Nirvana, the state of eternal bliss, can never be acquired unless humans get rid of karma (desires) burning within them. For some Buddhists, the purpose is to stay and follow the eight fold path preached by Buddha. The eight fold path is the path of righteousness, righteousness in action, thought and belief (Hardy n.d.).
There is nothing in the world without a purpose. In Quran, God says, "Did you think that We had created you in play (without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?" (Sura 23 - Al-Mumenoon (MAKKA): Verse 115) (Inc. 2006). At another instance He says, "Does Man think…
Works Cited
Hardy, Julia. (2012). Patheos Library-Human nature and the purpose of existence. n.d. http://www.patheos.com/Library/Buddhism/Beliefs/Human-Nature-and-the-Purpose-of-Existence?offset=1&max=1 (accessed 06-14, 2012).
Inc., Quran Explorer. Quran Explorer. (2006). http://www.quranexplorer.com/Search / (accessed 06-14, 2012).
Scott, David.(1995). "Buddhism and Islam: Past to Present Encounters and Interfaith Lessons." pg. 141-155.
Shun, Yin. (1995). "Teachings in chinese buddhism." 06 1995. http://www.buddhanet.net/ebooks_ms.htm (accessed 06-14, 2012).
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