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Buddhism: The Universal Truth

627 Words3 Pages

How can one religion have all the answer for all the different people in the world? In many prevalent religions the “universal truth” is used to provide justification for domination and superiority. The truth proved that the system of belief “had all the answers”. This provided the need to convert others to their religion to ensure the safety of their soul, but it soon became to be used as a tool in the authority over other cultures. Not all cultures believe in a universal truth, Buddhism actually identifies that it does not have the universal truth. In Buddhism you cannot practice mindfulness and compassion and believe to have the universal truth, this is what creates the intolerance and fanaticism within the other cultures and religions …show more content…

The first out of the fourteen mindfulness trainings states that “Buddhist teachings are guiding means to help us learn and to look deeply and to develop our understanding and compassion. They are not doctrines to fight, kill, or die for.” (Hanh, 17). This is saying that Buddhist teachings are not restricting it is not a system that worships ideas to the death or allows these ideas to create intolerance or exploitation. It is saying that Buddhism is to be used to guide a person morally. One must be aware of the suffering that this creates though and learn how to cure and avoid this suffering. In the second of the fourteen trainings he states that being “Aware of the suffering created by attachment to views and wrong perceptions,” (Hanh, 17). This creates a solution to believing in a universal truth. It states that the only way to understand is to remove yourself from previous beliefs and views. Buddhist are aware that their thoughts are not universal and that they have to be willing to learn other views. He also states “Truth is found in life, and we will observe life within and around us in every moment, ready to learn throughout our lives.” (Hanh, 17). He references the only truth is learning through life were you will experience many views. To practice mindfulness and compassion you cannot believe in a universal truth. Doing so brings intolerance and fanaticism which only leads to a culture rich in domination and exploitation. Which brings the suffering that Buddhists are to be aware of and help

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