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Buddhism
Buddhism Buddhism 1.) The First Noble Truth - "Dukkha" A.) The First Noble Truth seems to be an intrinsic understanding that all things are impermanent. This impermanence causes us to feel frustrated when we can't hold on to people or things we think we need. This need helps us feel wanted and/or important. Dukkha can also be described as the suffering we experience and see in our lives. Unpleasant conditions such as being sick, seeing our loved ones get sick and die, getting aggravated over things our children do, losing a job, etc. cause us to experience Dukkha. The Buddha felt that this suffering was brought on by our attachment to people and things. Only by detachment and selfless acts can we become free from the unpleasantness of Dukkha. Another aspect of Dukkha deals with the belief in the importance of oneself. The Five Aggregates are the foundation of this aspect. The "I" saying "I" creates the illusion of "I" which consists of matter, sensations, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness. These five items produce the compound being that experiences Dukkha. B.) I Believe I give significance to things or events that aren't intentionally producing Dukkha. I'm leaving my house to go to work and I happen to leave a couple of minutes late knowing that there is a possibility that I might be late. As I'm driving someone pulls in front of me and is maybe doing the speed limit. I immediately go into reaction mode. This is where I have to realize that the person in front of me is not intentionally trying to make me late for work. (not until I flash my highbeams or honk my horn) Looking at situations objectively and being more proactive can help us deal with Dukkha better. I believe the Buddha understood that "Dukkha Happens" so its how we deal with it that can cause the frustration, sadness, and suffering. C.) I have mixed feelings on the concept of Dukkha. Specifically with the element of detachment. I agree with the idea of detachment from material things but I don't agree when it comes to people. Although I believe material things come and go with memories of them fading as time goes on, I feel as people come and go through our lives, the memories of attachment stay with us embedded in our hearts as well as in our mind. (Darshana ?) The idea of everything being an illusion or Maya is tough to conceptualize. I do believe we are the thinker behind the thought. The "I" creates the illusion of who we are and how we behave. I also believe that by combining the Five Aggregates, The "I" saying "I" helps us to be "Ever- changing physical and mental forces" capable of realizing our potential but within our limitations. 2.) The Second Noble Truth - "Tanha" A.) I'm struggling to find differences between the first and second Noble Truths. I see the definition of Dukkha encompassing all the elements of Tanha. I guess that's why it is so important to remember when trying to understand Dukkha that "The arising of Dukkha is within Dukkha itself, and not outside". Also, "The destruction of Dukkha, is also within Dukkha, and not outside". Within Tanha, the concept of Karma is explained. The force to continue whether good or bad is the cause of Karma. It's not the effect when something happens but the act that causes something to happen. The idea of life after death is also discussed within Tanha. The Buddha explains that because there is no self, only a combination of the Five Aggregates which the "I" creates, "One thought moment conditions the next thought moment". We are in a constant state of change which explains why nothing is permanent. B.) Our Ego causes us to want to have things our way. This desire or craving is apparent in our everyday lives. When I feel I have an idea on how my children should behave, there is a desire for them to do something as I would do it. Not letting them grow in there own way and watching as a helpful observer causes Dukkha within me. If the craving for a new car causes me to lose track of immediate needs, frustration knowing... This is ONLY a preview of the article. If you would like to view the entire document, you must subscribe to Academic Library. Please register below now!
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