The Four Noble Truths - Buddha's First Teaching

Question 3 

The four noble truths are the pillars that represent the essence of the Buddha's teachings. They involve part of what the Buddha came to think during his meditation under the tree. They include the truth of suffering, origin of suffering, cessation of suffering, and lastly, the truth that defines the path to the cessation of suffering. The Buddha was often related to a physician. In the first two truths, he is making a diagnosis of the problem which is suffering hence identifying its cause. The cure is realized in the third Noble Truth. The Fourth Noble Truth is a way of achieving liberation from the suffering. The First Noble Truth talks about suffering and is referred to as Dukkha. It appreciates that suffering comes in many forms. The three important forms of suffering highlighted in this truth as seen by the Buddha include sickness, old age, and death. The Buddha also acknowledges that suffering goes beyond the three forms by the fact that it is not ideal. In saying so, the Buddha meant that people always fail to live up to what they expected. The desires and cravings of human beings are only subjected to a temporary form of satisfaction. Even when individuals are free from the conventional sufferings of diseases, old, age, and death, the unfulfillment and dissatisfaction become the major sources of suffering. 

The Second Noble Truth outlines the origin of suffering which is also referred to as Samudaya. The everyday troubles experienced by humanity have notable causes that include sadness, pain from injury, and thirst. In this truth, Buddha claimed to have determined the reason why all suffering comes to human beings. The Buddha accused human desire to be the root of all suffering. The desires are divided into three parts that include the Three Fires, Three Poisons, and the Three Roots of Evil. The Third Noble Truth focuses on the cessation of suffering also known as Nirodha. Because desire is the main cause of suffering, people must extinguish it by liberating themselves from attachment. Therefore, this particular truth mainly focuses on the ideas of a possible liberation. The Buddha went ahead to give a self-account that liberation was a possible thing that can happen in human life. The truth further asserts that after death, an individual who is enlightened will be liberated from the rebirth cycle. Also, the Buddha discourages people from excessive questioning with regards to this particular form of truth. He wants them to focus on the work at hand which involves being freed from suffering. 

The Fourth Noble Truth defines the path to stopping the suffering also referred to as magga. Here, the Buddha prescribes how suffering can be stopped among human beings. Here, the Buddha outlines an eightfold path which is also referred to as the Middle Way. They include right understanding, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and right concentration. The eight steps focus on enlightenment, ethical conduct, and meditation. The principles outlined in The Four Truths prove that Buddhism is both a religion and philosophy. The truths investigate the principles of knowledge, conduct, and being hence making proving that the religion is also a philosophy. The Buddha in his truths also invites people to think for themselves. The truths also affirm the fact that Buddhism is a religion. The principles discussed contain metaphysical aspects that interrogate reality which is associated with religion. The discussions of afterlife also prove that the truths emphasize the facts that Buddhism is a valid religion. In reconciling religious and philosophical Buddhism, the codes, conducts, and knowledge which form part of the philosophy can be used to strengthen what Buddhism stands for, which include the teachings of the Buddha about life, enlightenment, suffering, and afterlife. 

Question 4 

Both Buddhism and Jainism are two religious factions that have a similar origin. They both arose due to revolts against the Vedic religion. There are certain similarities and differences between the two religious factions. With regards to similarities, both religious groups have India as their place of origin. The two religions also employ the use of statues and pictures that depict the common practices and the gods of the religion. The source of the two religions is the Vedic religion, and both are indebted to the principles of the Upanishads. Both Buddhism and Jainism deny the existence of a supreme God. The two religious factions also deny the authority emanating from Vedas and the significance of performing rituals and sacrifices. Also, Buddhism and Jainism have accepted the theories of Moksha and Karma rebirth. The two religions used the language of the common people to teach and also important enough, both of them prohibit the use of animal sacrifices. Disciples in both religions were picked from all castes and gender. Both the two religions focus on the preaching of the right conduct and knowledge as opposed to the use of rituals and religious ceremonies in obtaining salvation. The prominent principle for both religions is referred to as Ahimsa. 

The two religions also have certain differences despite the fact that they have similar origins. With regards to the concept of Moksha, in Buddhism, one attains it while they forego all the earthly desires. In Jainism, Moksha is regarded as freedom from miseries that can only be achieved after death. The goal of Buddhism is to attain enlightenment and therefore to be eliminated from the cycle of both rebirth and death. On the other hand, Jainism aims to attain liberation, adopt a life that is free from violence, and also be liberated from the cycle of rebirths. The founder member of the Buddhism as a religion is the Buddha whose real name was Prince Siddhartha. The founder of Jainism is Rishabhdev the first and was later revived by Vardhaman the twenty-fourth. With regards to the place of worship, the Buddhist use temples, shrines, and monasteries while the people belonging to Jainism mainly use the temple. 

The practices of Buddhism mainly include meditation, application of the Eightfold path which is found in the Four Truths. On the other hand, the practices of the Jainism include the utilization of the Five Vows of Truth, non-stealing, non-violence, non-attachment, and the control over senses and desires. The clergy members of Buddhism mainly involve the Buddhist Sangha, bhikkhus, and bhikkhunis, which mean the male and female nuns respectively. The literal meaning of being a Buddhist is following the teachings of the Buddha, the founder member of the religion. On the other hand, Jainism means becoming a Jina which means to have a liberated soul which is acquired by following the 24 teachings of the Ford-makers. Certain aspects of the Vedic religion were rejected by both Buddhists and people in the Jainism religion. The Buddhists rejected any form of blind belief that included divine revelation or origin. They also rejected the use of rituals especially the use of animals. They also rejected the caste system where people were segregated based on their societal position. The Jainism religion also rejected the use of rituals and the caste system. They also reject the aspect of divinity and the belief in a supreme God. Some of the aspects that have been incorporated by the two religious groups include the use of statues and pictures, worshipping in the temples, and their beliefs in the institution of death and rebirth.