SUFFERING IN BUDDHIST TEACHINGS
1. Suffering is a central belief in Buddhism, and the purpose in the religion is to overcome the real starting point. The core teachings are also the cause and cure of why individuals suffer.
2. Everything in life is Dukka and causes suffering. Therefore life is suffering. Suffering includes:
+ Physical suffering (pain, illness…etc)
+Mental suffering (irritation, discomfort…etc)
+Philosophical suffering (insufficiency, incompleteness…etc)
3. a) The cause of suffering is the desire to need and want things, as well as attachments to materialistic desires.
3b. The Buddha believes that desire comes from a person’s mistaken belief in and striving for permanent existence. Humans believe they have an enduring body; they can live in an enduring world with enduring company and items. This all causes suffering.
4. Buddhism believes that a human soul is forever changing and has no rest, only a ‘ceaseless becoming and never-ending change.” Annica is change, the soul always changing and evolving and desiring. Annatta is the belief that nothing has a continuing eternal soul.
5. Karma = action-reaction. The belief that is if someone acts in a good way his or her next life will be good (the same if they were to act in a bad way their next life will be bad). This also relates to samsara (birth and rebirth). So if someone experiences karma they shall experience samsara => the chain will not be broken.
6. The moral cause of rebirth occurs because people are afflicted not only because of their own acts in this life but also as a settlement of outstanding debts accruing from bad. In other words, whatever one reaps, he/she has sown (karma).
7. One must remove the desire and attachment of ones unreal self. This is done by penetrating the 4 noble truths and following the middle way.
8. Nirvana is something indescribable, and something one attains when they have realised the four truths and to have...