ipl-logo

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

Show More
Related
450 Words | 2 Pages

Hanh compares the idea of mindfulness to that of the Holy Spirit in an attempt to show us the similarities in both religions. He describes mindfulness and the Holy Spirit as being representative of the healing powers and spiritual peacefulness found in the teachings of Christ and the Buddha. Mindfulness allows one to have full understanding and love. It gives us the ability to contemplate and heal wounds within our own minds, while the Holy Spirit has the ability to heal us through the power and love of Christ and God, the

Read More
1867 Words | 8 Pages

In “The Buddha’s Message” by Christopher Gowans, we are presented with an overview of the Buddha’s teaching. Gowans expounds on certain central aspects of Buddhism, namely the idea of suffering, the 4 Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and Nirvana providing examples and analogies to elucidate these ideas. In this paper, I shall argue in agreement with the sentiment that life is suffering on two main fronts, those being that I agree with the idea that the universe possesses an impermanent nature, causing happiness gained from fulfilling all desires impermanent as well and thus suffering inevitable, followed by my belief that flesh naturally begets suffering, that is, our physical existence is a source of suffering so long as we physically exist.

Read More
762 Words | 4 Pages

In document seven, Tang Emperor Wu declares that Buddhism “wears out the people’s strength, pilfers their wealth, causes people to abandon their lords and parents for the company of teachers, and serves man and wife with its monastic decrees” and that it causes a large strain on resources because workers are giving up their jobs. He goes on to state that Buddhist

Read More
466 Words | 2 Pages

Jaleen Carroll A1 11/17/17 Free Response Essay There are many major religions in the world, one of them being Buddhism. Buddhism is a religion founded in India around the fifth century C.E. Throughout time, it made its way to China. While in China, Buddhism was viewed by the people in many ways, both positive and negative.

Read More
641 Words | 3 Pages

Buddhism offered a comforting and stable option for all including aristocrats and upper-class citizens in times of

Read More
1117 Words | 5 Pages

In Stephen Batchelor’s book, Buddhism without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening he goes into depth about the idea that Buddhism is not a religion or something to believe in, but rather a mindset that is a way of living with a course of action. Throughout the book he gives examples and tells stories to defend the idea that Buddhism is more than just something to believe in, but it is a way of living. Batchelor noted that when it comes to viewing Buddhism as a religion it is important to know the way Buddha viewed himself “Instead of presenting himself as a savior, he saw himself as a healer” (6). His ‘job’ was not to convert people to believe in his beliefs, rather, he wanted to show them through actions how fulfilling his way of living

Read More
1037 Words | 5 Pages

Buddhism is a religion founded in the 5th century, by Buddha the person who then helped spread it into places like India and much of China and continuing to spread into some parts of Asia. The vast amount of trading routes such as the silk road in Asia helped Buddha and his views spread. This new religion clashed with other great religions such as Christianity causing some’s responses to Buddhism to be alarming. However, these were only a small amount of responses, the greater response to Buddhism in China was very positive with many supporting the idea that Buddha brought which was peace and enlighten.

Read More
795 Words | 4 Pages

Documents 1 and 5 do not directly show support or contempt for Buddhism, but rather give another perspective of the religion. Document 1 comes from a sermon preached by the Buddha himself. “The Four Noble Truths” shows us the basic guidelines of the religion. This information is vital because many people who just simply chose a side of the fight for or against Buddhism may not actually know what the religion represents. By reading the sermon, the Chinese citizens could form a better understanding of Buddhism.

Read More
768 Words | 4 Pages

Many scholars disagree and have no say with the success of Buddhism in

Read More
695 Words | 3 Pages

Buddhism Worksheet University of Phoenix Willie Howard Rel. 133 Dr. R. Bennett Furlow March 8, 2017 1. Explain the basic Buddhist teachings including the three marks of reality, the Four Noble Truths, and the Noble Eightfold Path.

Read More
822 Words | 4 Pages

A famous Buddhist scholar during the 9th century named Zong Mi, wrote “ All three teachings lead to the creation of an orderly society and for this they must be observed with respect.” ( Doc 5, Mi) His writings were for the people of the Tang dynasty, who favored his opinion. He mentions society, which leads the reader to believe the religion is widespread and having a effect on society.

Read More
1047 Words | 5 Pages

According to Elizabeth Owen, who frequently practices Buddhist teachings, “being calm, centered and compassionate is applicable to all human beings which potentially is the reason that people are attracted to the core beliefs of Buddhism. Peace and compassion are influential concepts which are achieved through Buddhist teachings in Australian society, where this provides an “antidote to the materialism and consumption which dominate the Western society Both the lack of need to appease gods or priests and the absence of adherence to dogmas and myths contribute to the foundations of Buddhism, where they are not so much “tenets of faith as they are those of perceptions held within our own mind According to Elizabeth Owen, “people are turning to Buddhism for its non-violent, peaceful and compassionate

Read More
467 Words | 2 Pages

Buddhism is also a polytheism religion they also believe in one god. That god is name is Buddha One of their sacred texts is called both records the words of the Buddha. They have many Holy days here is a few Vesak, Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path of Buddhism is the eight practices called right view, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samadhi. So the Noble eightfold path is one of the principal teachings.

Read More
504 Words | 3 Pages

Looking at Buddhism as a lifestyle more than a coherent or logical argument is key to formulating a cohesive response, and as of such, most of the objections we can hold against it are either pragmatically or morally based. A popular response to the Buddha’s teaching is to recognise the 1st Noble Truth as simply ‘life denying’; simply to repress the suffering in our lives by taking a more neutral stance (Seen in the ‘acceptance’ that all is suffering) is detrimental to the human condition. We may attribute this criticism to Nietzsche who, in his book Beyond Good and Evil, asserts that Buddhism is a rejection of life and a negation of the world-affirming view that he defends so stoutly. More simply, the 1st Noble Truth aims to diminish the

Read More
290 Words | 2 Pages

There is Four Noble Truths, on the basis of Buddhism. The first Noble Truth is, that all life is suffering, pain, and misery. The Second Truth is that this suffering is caused by selfish craving and personal desire. Reading about the Buddhist approach made me believe our desire in life leads us to suffer, unfulfilled desires cause us pain and suffering. This becomes very easy to understand, our desires become what we suffer from.

Read More

More about Buddhism: The Universal Truth

Related Topics

Open Document