Chelsea: What is the central premise to Buddhism?
I’m aware of the 4 nobel truths and the 8 fold path but is seems very unclear what the the premise is to Buddhism. The end result after many lifetimes is nirvana after reincarnation after reincarnation, but what is the avenue to better and better incarnations? I’ve heard some say cultivating love, but I’m really unsure as to the avenue that these things are to occur.
Answers and Views:
Answer by MR.QA
end of suffering, peace, enlightenment, nirvana
love and compassion is one of them, basically do good to get better incarnations
Answer by P’angThe Four Noble Truths (which incorporate the Eightfold Path) form the central premise of Buddhism.
The Buddha repeated these truths over and over.
In fact, he repeatedly said that he only taught, “suffering, the cause of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the path to cessation.”
If we wish to realize these truths in our own lives, then we simply need to follow the Eightfold Path. If we do that, then reincarnation, karma, dependent origination, and the other teachings will become clear to us. If we don’t follow the Eightfold Path, then all of Buddha’s teachings are merely good ideas.
The Buddha realized these truths by practicing meditation. It was through sincere and stable meditation that he attained his awakening, and it was meditation that he recommended to others as the path to awakening.
With awakening, genuine love, wisdom, compassion, generosity, creativity, joy, and other beneficial qualities manifest in our life. Without awakening, we experience these qualities in the same way that we experience the shadow of a person – two dimensional and transient.
Leave a Reply