The concept of Suffering within Buddhism |  |
In the west today we live pretty comfortable lives. Many of us do not lack food, shelter, or suffer from illness or disease. Therefore it is perhaps difficult for us to contemplate a philosophical system that is centred around the removal of suffering. For this indeed is what Buddhism is.
SIddhartha Gautama, now known to his followers as the Buddha, live in North East India and from an early age was intrigued by the suffering of the world. He grew up in a Hindu household, Legend would have it that he was the son of a king and his father was determined that he should never see suffering and so was locked up inside the palace. However inevitably Siddhartha did see suffering: His mother died when he was young, and he was not satisfied remaining within the palace and wish to see outside of the walls. So he instructed his chariot driver Chana to take him outside and show him the world. Here he saw for sights that changed his philosophical outlook forever.
SIddhartha Gautama, now known to his followers as the Buddha, live in North East India and from an early age was intrigued by the suffering of the world. He grew up in a Hindu household, Legend would have it that he was the son of a king and his father was determined that he should never see suffering and so was locked up inside the palace. However inevitably Siddhartha did see suffering: His mother died when he was young, and he was not satisfied remaining within the palace and wish to see outside of the walls. So he instructed his chariot driver Chana to take him outside and show him the world. Here he saw for sights that changed his philosophical outlook forever.
- He saw an old man.
- He saw a sick man.
- He saw a dead man.
- And he saw a holy man.
Siddhartha asked how he could avoid getting old, being sick and dying and recognise that one way might be to become like the holy man. So he stole away from the palace and tried to lead an ascetic life - the life of a monk. The legends have it that he managed to get down to eating one grain of rice everyday, and he stabbed himself. But he realise that this was not making him satisfied and he could not concentrate on achieving peace because he was so hungry. So in the end he decided to sit down Under the shade of a Bhodi tree until he achieved enlightenment. eventually after many struggles with his inner demons he managed to realise the truth of the world - he had become a Buddha.
Buddhism is the teaching of those truths - what is known to Buddhist as the Dharma. Buddhism is not in fact all that relaxed and liberal, as some people might have you believe. Rather, it is full of lists and traditions that the Buddha passed onto his followers and they try to remember and practice today. These include the learning of the four Noble Truths, the five moral precepts and the eightfold path. The aim of all these practices is detach oneself from the material things of this life, whilst not depriving oneself fully, to reach a state where at death one will pass into Nirvana.
The Buddha realised that suffering cannot be avoided completely but one can take steps to limit its influence upon oneself and so reach the ultimate goal.
Buddhism is the teaching of those truths - what is known to Buddhist as the Dharma. Buddhism is not in fact all that relaxed and liberal, as some people might have you believe. Rather, it is full of lists and traditions that the Buddha passed onto his followers and they try to remember and practice today. These include the learning of the four Noble Truths, the five moral precepts and the eightfold path. The aim of all these practices is detach oneself from the material things of this life, whilst not depriving oneself fully, to reach a state where at death one will pass into Nirvana.
The Buddha realised that suffering cannot be avoided completely but one can take steps to limit its influence upon oneself and so reach the ultimate goal.
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