Eightfold Path Of Buddhism Essay

Buddhism is characterized by a variety of ideals and traditions that separate it from other religions. As the authors in the book, Religions of South Asia: an introduction stipulates, “Hindus, Jainas, and Buddhists do live their lives according to certain convictions and patterns f behavior…”These ideals define a Buddhist’s life. There are Four Noble Truths that guide Buddhists in their righteous path. The first Noble Truth is Dukkha. It stipulates that suffering is an integral part of life. As human we all have experienced some sort of suffering, looking back at ancient India they actually suffered in modern Britain. One thing we all have in common as humans is suffering. “The Pali word, dukkha, means "incapable of satisfying" or "not able to bear or withstand anything": always changing, incapable of truly fulfilling us or making us happy.” Not finding satisfaction is not a good thing because we will always continue to find a way out. All Buddhists believe that the

This last noble truth is a precursor for the Eightfold Path of Buddhism. It stipulates that Buddhists must follow and strictly adhere to the Eightfold Path. This is the only way through which they will be able to end their suffering. These four ideals of Buddhism guide Buddhists on how they ought to live their daily lives. By learning to accept life sufferings, Buddhists are able to lead a happy life. They are always ready to tackle each challenge with the hope of ultimate happiness. The ideals also foster great relationships between Buddhists in the society. Living harmoniously and in peace with each other helps strengthen the societal ties leading to happier communities As the author of the book,Pain and its Ending: The Four Noble Truths in the Theravada Buddhist Cannon, states, “This is how Buddhism is a religion; in default of gods, it admits the existence of sacred things, namely, the four noble truths and the practices derived from