Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

Buddhism Kisogotami

Good Essays
718 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Buddhism Kisogotami
The Buddha did not just say to kisagotami that death cannot be escaped because she was distraught and was only interested in finding a way of bringing her son back to life. If the Buddha had told kisogatami directly it would only have worsened her loss. The Buddha was explaining the truth in a simple way so that she could understand it herself. He was portraying that no one can escape death and unhappiness. If people expect only happiness in life, they will be disappointed. Neither those wise nor those foolish are immune to death. However great a father roars, he can never waken a dead daughter. And in Religion however much a mother begs the gods, a dead son will never cry again. The Buddha teaches the woman - in the only way she can understand - that pain and loss are part of life, and it's okay to go on living." The Buddha asks for a mustard seed instead because he understands what she must be going through. He shows the woman about suffering through the mustard seeds she obviously must have thought it was easy as there would have been a lot of mustard seeds in every house this may also be a reason why the Buddha chose the mustard seeds.
This story tells us that Buddhist attitude to suffering is that to live is to suffer as we know that death could be around the corner. We just know that death is their but not knowing when it will come is the real suffering. During our lifetime, we have to go through physical suffering such as pain, sickness, injury, tiredness, old age, and eventually death; and we have to endure psychological suffering like sadness, fear, frustration, disappointment, and depression. Although there are different degrees of suffering and there are also positive experiences in life that we perceive as the opposite of suffering, such as ease, comfort and happiness. Overall this means we are never able to keep permanently what we like and ourselves and our loved ones will pass away one day, too. The Buddhists believe that suffering is caused by desire, passion, pursuit of wealth and prestige, striving for fame or popularity. In other words craving.
CRAVING
is the deep-seated desire that all living beings have for the pleasures of the senses, and for life itself. For instance, people always seek to enjoy good food, entertainment and pleasant company. Yet none of these can give them complete and lasting satisfaction. After the fine meal has been eaten, the beautiful music heard and the pleasant company shared, one is still not content. One would like to enjoy these pleasures again and again, and for as long as possible.
You could think of our craving as a thirst for pleasure. The more you drink, the thirstier you become. We thirst to be rid of pain. We thirst to become something or someone else. It’s like drinking salt water — our thirst is never quenched.
People who desire to own many things also can never be fully satisfied too. Like children in a toyshop, they crave all the attractive things they see around them. But like children, they soon become dissatisfied with what they already have and desire more. Sometimes, they can hardly eat or sleep until they get what they want. Yet when they succeed in getting what they want, they may still find their happiness short-lived. Many will be too worried for the safety and condition of their new possessions to enjoy it. Then when the object they possess eventually breaks into pieces and has to be thrown away, they will suffer its loss even more.
When we have obtained something we desire, we may want more and more of it, and so greed arises. Because of desire and greed, people will lie, cheat and steal to get what they want. Uncontrolled desires can also lead to addiction, for example, to smoking, drinking and overeating, all of which lead to suffering and cause mental and physical harm.
If another person prevents one from getting what is desired, one may feel anger towards that person. Desire, when obstructed, can lead to ill will and anger. This in turn can lead to harsh words, violent quarrels and even fights or killings. All of this is suffering.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Buddhism

    • 876 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Following the collapse of the Han Dynasty, Buddhism's popularity gradually began to grow in China. Based on these documents, there were two distinct responses China had do to control the spread of Buddhism. Firstly, they needed support from Chinese scholars and citizens and secondly disdain towards it from those in direct power of China. Part of the reason Buddhism spread was because it was a missionary religion. Many educated Chinese supported the religion as they created written records highlighting the appealing aspects of the religion.Those in direct control over China showed their opposition towards the religion by describing it as a threat to China and its people.…

    • 876 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Over its long history Buddhist has developed into a wide variety of forms, ranging from an emphasis on religious rituals and worship of deities to a complete rejection of both rituals and deities in favor of pure meditation. But all share in common a great respect for the teachings of the Buddha, ‘The Enlightened One’”(Religion Facts). Originally Buddhism was centered on the individuals who lived in moderation to decrease their suffering, but evolved into monks and nuns who worshipped Buddha as their god. One of the main beliefs of Buddhism is true enlightenment, also known as nirvana. In this novel the main reason Hsun-ching tried to get the sutra was so Wei-ching could achieve enlightenment but he soon realizes, “It is as Buddha said all along: Enlightenment cannot be found in books. It must be experienced directly! Foolish as I was, I did not take him at his word” (260). Another example of Buddhism in the novel is when Wei-ching talks about how the must temporarily soil themselves to help someone else perform a good deed, “Wei-ching picked his teeth for a moment, then said ‘It is true that one should not eat meat or dink liquor. But it is even more true that Buddhist must be compassionate. That man needed to prepare us a good meal, to redeem himself for ignoring religion during his life. If we had refused, we would have prevented him carrying…

    • 853 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    APWH unit 2 study guides

    • 1840 Words
    • 8 Pages

    "Life is suffering" is the most central teaching of the Buddha, who taught that people should live modest and moral lives combined with meditation to free themselves from craving for individual fulfillment and thus from suffering.…

    • 1840 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    "Located in California, exposes the discovery of Buddhism and its first law, ""life is suffering"" during the time when its author Jack Kerouac felt a failure to find no publisher for his book. But besides a philosophical way of facing failure and the search for true meaning ""Dharma"", by some youths, it expresses the union with nature on top of high mountains, brotherhood and poetry. And all between wine, marijuana and orgies, where the protagonist is the poet Gary Snyder Buddhist.…

    • 180 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Wat Buddharangsi

    • 1855 Words
    • 8 Pages

    When it came down to me finding out where I wanted to do my site visitation for this class, it was actually a lot harder than I thought. I grew up in a household that had Hindu morals and values, however, my parents’ view on religion were quite vague. Growing up we never attended church (temple) and the only time we celebrated any religious holiday is when our grandparents came around. My parents believed in allowing my little sister and I to grow into our own religious beliefs. At first I considered practicing Christianity because most of my friends are Christian and I figured it would give me an opportunity to learn more about them. I ended up attended a service at a Baptist Church called New Birth Baptist Church located in North Miami, but when I sat down to write the paper I had nothing interesting to write about. I started researching different religions and finally came across a Buddhist temple called Wat Buddharangsi.…

    • 1855 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Buddhism Worksheet

    • 389 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In order to explain the basic Buddhist teachings I would like to provide information on key points due to the fact no one knows precisely what the Buddha’s teachings were because his teaching were done orally and as a result there were many interpretations, in addition the stories have not been recorded until after his death. In essence people rely on the stories as well as the texts that were recorded and his teaching is based on trustworthiness. The three marks of reality are constant change, lack of permanent identity, and the existence of suffering. Constant change refers to taking life for what it really is the fact of the matter is that nothing that we experience remains the same. Lack of permanent identity refers to each person or thing is viewed as being made up of parts to be called something Labels are the reality. The existence of suffering refers to the fact that life cannot be fully satisfying, even after pleasure there comes a point of dissatisfaction. The Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Paths are a linked chain of the truths about life and by following the Noble Eightfold Paths you will be able to attain release from suffering. (Malloy 2010)…

    • 389 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Shambhala Buddhism

    • 2241 Words
    • 9 Pages

    In Shambhala Buddhism, “ There is a natural source of radiance and brilliance in the world, which is the innate wakefulness of human beings.” It is in the Shambhala view that every single human has the foundational characteristics of good, warmth and intelligence. The Shambhala way of life applies to any faith and not just people of the Buddhist religion. Basically put, Shambhala is a global movement devoted to bringing kindness, insight, meditation and an idea of sacredness into society. Historically, the term of “Shambhala Buddhism” was introduced to the world in 2000 to describe the lineage and community led by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. However, the Shambhala community was brought to America in 1970 with the arrival of the 11th Trungpa Tulku (incarnate line of Tibetan Lamas). The first ever center of teaching was located in Barnet, Vermont and known as “The Tail of the Tiger.” Since then, the Shambhala way of life spread like wildfire due to the openness and overall acceptance of people from any cultural or social background/construct. Shambhala teachings also promote a worldly approach to meditation and an appreciation of the goodness every human being has the capability to reveal. Different from other paths of life, Shambhala Buddhism encourages diversity since it’s own essence is derived from many different religions. Although the teachings are based around the central idea and construct of Tibetan Buddhism (concepts, terms, etc.), Shambhala adds elements of Bon, Taoism, Confucianism and Shinto. Trungpa Rinpoche, Buddhist Meditation Master and holder of the 11th Trungpa Tulku, decided to infuse and corporate the elements of said religions/traditions because he felt it would do no harm and only benefit practitioners. Today, the Shambhala Buddhist community thrives as the largest community of Western practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism. Momentarily there are a few thousand followers located in more than 170 centers around the world. Through this modern, new-age…

    • 2241 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Dbq- Buddhism

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages

    When Buddhism first began to spread into china, reactions were mixed. While many people supported the idea, others were neutral, and a large number opposed Buddhism’s growing popularity. The opinions on the spread were not always cultural; many had underlying political origins. Those that supported this idea were typically those left without rights by the old Confucian ideals or people who were looking for an alternate for Confucianism. Some reacted neutrally so as to gain the favor of both sides. On the flip side as Buddhism began to change Confucian values, the people in power turned strictly against the new belief system in an effort to keep ancient tradition.…

    • 773 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Han Dynasty Essay Example

    • 826 Words
    • 4 Pages

    While feudal warlords fought over land, the people of China suffered. Even in the midst of this semi-civil war, they had to deal with the nomadic Mongolians attacking their northern border. The people needed something to put their faith in, and that is where they found Buddhism. In a time of so much death, destruction, and despair, Buddhism alleviated people’s sorrows by explaining how to stop the miseries of their lives through the Four Noble Truths. (Document # 1) People like the scholar Zhi Dun promised that those who followed the Buddhist Scriptures and lived the Buddhist lifestyle would be rewarded with Nirvana, the extinction of desires, and the in the afterlife. (Document # 2) Zhi Dun would have followed Buddhism because the invading nomads were driven by greed to pillage and plunder, that having no desire for material things would lead to peace. Those who converted to Buddhism gave up the Confucian way of life, which put importance on family, property, and having a place in society. In the work, “The Disposition of Error”, a Chinese scholar defends Buddhism by saying these things were decadent luxuries of the bourgeoisies, which only provide a desire for more of the luxurious items/activities. He argued that failure to fulfill desires only leads to sorrow, and that wisdom and the Buddhist way of life could replace those desires, therefore replacing the sorrow. (Document # 3) Due to of all said wondrous promises, and the fact that the…

    • 826 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Buddhism Dbq

    • 1187 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Before 570 C.E., a majority of Chinese scholars viewed Buddhism as a positive aspect of their culture. Right after the fall of the Han empire, China was in chaos and was not as unified as they used to be. The bureaucracy was weakened and China was politically unstable. The common people and the scholar-gentry class needed something to look to. Documents one, two, and three were all written before 570 C.E. and they demonstrate how Buddhism’s teachings benefit all people. Document one is according to Buddhist tradition and states that life is full of sorrow and that the only way to stop sorrow is by stopping cravings and selfish desires. By following the Four Noble Truths, people will be relived from their sorrow. Document two, written by Zhi Dun, states that whoever follows Buddhism’s beliefs and lives their lives purely will reach Nirvana and will not have to suffer anymore. Because of Zhi Dun’s high status…

    • 1187 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Genl1021

    • 2051 Words
    • 9 Pages

    GENL1021 Midterm Study online at quizlet.com/_ivhn7 100. 142. 2. 63.…

    • 2051 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Buddhism can be defined as a religion, originated in India by Buddha, focusing on compassion. The main teaching of Buddhism is that desire causes life’s suffering. To end this suffering one must go through enlightenment. Support for these teachings are the Four Noble Truths. The first truth is that suffering is inevitable. Secondly, suffering is caused by desire and ignorance. Thirdly, is the belief that we can end suffering by eliminating our cravings and desires achieving Nirvana. Finally, the fourth truth is that one must develop understanding, positive intentions, skillful speech, action, livelihood, good effort, mindfulness, and skillful meditation for Buddhist success.…

    • 783 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    buddhism

    • 1592 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Middle Land Chan Monastery is a Buddhist Temple I visited in Pomona. Middle Land Chan Monastery was built in April of 2008 and was founded by Master Wei Chueh, who is also the founder of Taiwan’s famous Chung Tai Chan Monastery. Wei Chueh wanted a Buddhist temple the inland empire to broaden the Buddhist religion and wisdom. Middle land Chan Monastery welcomes any race, gender, or religion and is free to any visitor. They offer free meditation classes of all levels and age groups. They have different days throughout the week, when they teach classes in Chinese or English allowing the communities preference. The classes teach the following: history of Zen Buddhism, the four noble truths, the noble eightfold path, six perfections, emptiness and the middle way, and the principle of casualties. Once you have completed the advanced classes you can move on to the Sutra study classes which teach more in depth about the above categories. These classes are two hours long for twelve weeks. The first hour is meditating and the second hour is teachings of the Buddha. Ceremonies are also offered with reservations. All ceremonies and classes are taught by Abbess Jianxiang. Dress Code is your choice but is recommended to be comfortable and non-slippery socks. Other meditation clothing is provided if wanted. Middle land Chan Monastery is a very good place to come if you are interested in Buddhism and want to learn their ways. I enjoyed my time spent there learning their culture and feeling welcomed the entire time.…

    • 1592 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    World religion

    • 575 Words
    • 2 Pages

    1. His first time realizing leaving his house and seeing normal people in the outside world. I think that this incident in Buddha’s life taught typical Buddhist householder that they can’t ignore the outside world. He taught them that even though your life might be going great that as soon as you step outside your door there is still going to be pain and suffering and death all around. I think it’s a lesson to makes them realize that all the suffering and death a pain are normal things in life and that they need to get used to it and even become okay with the thought of these things being are a normal part of life. Personally I think that this is a very good way to think because it opens people’s eyes and since they are able to see these things they can make changes to them. If you do not know that there is pain outside your door there is no way of stopping this pain and suffering from happening but if you are completely aware of the pain and suffering you have the ability and chance to take the pain and suffering away with actions which in this religion will give you good karma and lead you eventually to enlightenment.…

    • 575 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Zen Buddhism

    • 1798 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Allen, C. (2005, June 18). Is justice served in celebrity trials? Local experts disagree. Greenville Online News. Retrieved June 27, 2005, from http://greenvilleonline.com/news/2005/06/18/2005061866284.htm…

    • 1798 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays