Humanism is the idea that human beings have intrinsic value, and that this value does not come from a divine being. It includes the idea that human beings have the right and responsibility to give purpose, meaning and shape to their own lives by enjoying it and living it to the fullest. Humanists believe that we are all unique individuals, and our different personalities depend on a complex mixture of influences from our genetic makeup, our environment and social connections, they believe all these things can change at any point of our life time through experiences and other circumstances.
There is no one way of living that is applicable to everyone, we all have our own tastes, priorities and goals. We may find meaning through things like
…show more content…
The teaching of ‘Anatta’ (no-self) does not mean that individualism is denied, but it recognises that all people are equal and are linked by common factors. The suffering of an individual is one which we should all experience.
Buddhists believe in rebirth and the fact that all beings are in the cycle of rebirth, success depends upon escaping this cycle, seeing the negative reality of human nature and extinguishing desire through meditation. Out actions must produce positive karma in order to escape the rat race of this life.
The value of life for Buddhists is the opportunity to reach enlightenment and eventually ‘Nirvana’, this is a state of freedom from suffering, and Buddhists must achieve this by becoming free from the causes of suffering (attachment, ignorance and craving) by developing both wisdom, compassion and following ‘The Noble Eightfold Path’.
Human life is important for Buddhists as unlike other forms of life, humans have the possibility to get enlightened. In the end the enlightened person becomes a Buddha and becomes free from the cycle of compulsory