The essay is on the 4 noble Truths. Buddhism teaches that man can obtain ‘happiness' on this earth but ‘happiness' of a different sort to the Western idea and happiness that is procured through different means than what the West has in mind. Whilst the West actively pursues factors that it believes will bring it happiness and accrues possessions, Buddha espouses that we kill our desires for desire; that we realize that desire only bring us to unhappiness; and that unhappiness is the inescapable fact of the Earth. The only way we can do so is by practicing the Eightfold Path and this can serve as a raft towards genuine contentment and bliss.
¶ … human situation is presented in the Four Noble Truths.
How do the four truths specifically aim at correcting an inadequate view of the human situation?
In what way can the four truths be understood as a consistent and coherent whole?
the human situation is presented in the Four Noble Truths in the following way: We generally thinks that the essence of existence is happiness. In fact, we have long sought ways for making ourselves happy. The four truths aim at correcting an inadequate view of the human situation . What is this inadequate view of the human situation? The American condition avows that we are equally deserving of happiness whilst many believe that happiness is within our reach. Happiness, popular myth says, is not something that naturally happens but that must be worked towards usually through a change of attitude. Many believe, even on a subconscious level, that happiness must be worked towards in an alternate way, namely through collection of money and material possession. Many of us think that success symbolizes happiness and money is the symbol and harbinger of success.
Buddhism, in the shape of the Four Noble Truths, presents a radical very different -- in fact polar-opposite -- perspective towards happiness. It blasts happiness and focuses on contentment saying that contentment can be brought about by the opposite approach: by annulling our desires and want for money and by subduing our reaction to sensual and reactive things of this world.
The Four Nobel Truths are integrated. One naturally leads off and into the other and they can best be understood and worked towards as a whole. It is only when taken as a whole that man can raise himself above pain and misery and achieve the state of sublime contentment -- without necessarily becoming rich or fortunate.
The Truths are the following:
1. The truth of suffering
After long years of contemplation, Buddha discovered that the fate of this world is to suffer. People naturally suffer. even the wealthiest and most famous person endures pain, disappointment, frustration, loss, death, inability to actualize his dreams, hurt, and rejection. Disillusion and discouragement happens to all of us. There are the usual elements of frailty, elderliness, and death as well as pains of childbirth and hankerings of futility and embarrassment.
Considered pessimistic by individuals (and forming the basis of Schopenhauer's pessimistic philosophy), this concept of suffering is actually a curative of Western delusion since it point s us face-to-face with the reality of the world.
The Second Noble Truth explains the constitution of this suffering. The Second Noble Truth is this:
2. Origin of suffering
Suffering exists. True. There may be nothing that we can do to eradicate or prevent the circumstances that happen to us, but we can affect our attitude towards these circumstances. And we can do so by recognizing that our attitude stems from our desires. It is only because we feel this hurt, think we should not be hurt, do not deserve this hurt -- deserve in fact happiness and are worthy or respect and comfort (as per Western prescription) that we succumb to disappointment, pain, disillusion and so forth.
Buddha theorizes that desires are prompted by the Three Roots of Evil which are known as:
Hatred and intolerance; Ignorance and delusion and Greed and desire
Each of these categories drives humans to misery, destruction, rancor, and frustration. They wreak havoc in the human soul and the human world.
The way to overcome this is by the Third Noble Truth which is:
3. Cessation of suffering
Attitude can degrade all suffering and the way that we can do so is basically by defusing all desires and remaining impervious to their effect. In other words, that we remain without desire. Remain unaffected by anything, do not wish for anything, do not strive for money, fame, or glory, nor do we strive for the opinion of others or for prestige or promotion in job or in this life. Buddhism recommends that we strive for a feeling of serenity and bliss that is called 'Nirvana' and that comes about through realizing the ultimate emptiness and meaninglessness of anything in this world. We are all united- man with other animate things that include animal. All is fleeting and destructible. We need to have a sensation of renouncement to things in this world and love to one another. Obtaining this will enable us to transcend the pain of Suffering. And we can obtain this via the Fourth Nobel Truth which is:
4. Path to the cessation of suffering
This path is achieved through practical means. So finally we come to the instrument that, when practiced, can bring us full circle to obliviousness of desire. The instrument is the Eightfold Path and this consists of the following: Right Understanding of the Buddhist teachings; reflection; Positive Intention in performing the Paths; Right Speech: truth and generosity; Right Action; Right Livelihood; Effort in the positive state of one's mind; Mindfulness; and Concentration / focus
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