Buddha

Buddhism

1. Explain the basic Buddhist teachings including the three marks of reality, the Four Noble Truths, and the Noble Eightfold Path.

In Buddhism the Three Marks of Existence are impermanence, suffering, and not-self. Impermanence or change express the Buddhist notion that all things and experiences are inconstant, unsteady, and impermanent. Although change is not always a welcomed thing it is something that will always happen. Nothing is unchanging with humans we are born, we age, and we die. Time never stops and neither does change. Suffering is a condition of being disturbed or sorrow it refers to the fact that life can never be completely satisfied because it is always changing. Just because you are happy at one moment doesn’t mean you will it wont change the next. Lastly is No permanent Identity or not-self which means that since a person is ever-changing they have not permanent identity neither the respective parts nor the person as a whole comprise a self.

The Four Noble Truths consist of number one: To live life is to suffer which means life as we know it ultimately is or leads to suffering/uneasiness (dukkha) in one way or another. Birth, death, disease, and decay are all painful. Number two: Suffering comes from desire which means suffering is caused by craving. Wanting what we cant have and not being happy with what we do have. Truth number three: To end suffering, end desire which means suffering ends when craving ends. This is achieved by eliminating delusion, thereby reaching a liberated state of Enlightenment. The fourth and final truth is Release from suffering is possible and can be attained by following the Noble Eightfold Path which means what it says follow the path set out by Buddha to reach Enlightment.

The Eightfold Path is Right Understanding which is viewing reality as it is, not just as it appears to be on the surface. Right Thought removes greed/desire, hatred/anger and illusion/ignorance as to have pure thoughts. Right...