Herrera 1
Jackie Herrera
RELS 2010-001
1 May 2017
Buddhism
I will be stating what I have found and learned about Buddhism, how Buddhist started in
528BCE. I will be addressing six ways how Buddhist tradition started. First, Buddhas teachings
and how Siddhartha followers called him the enlightened one. Second, the noble fourfold truth
and suffering. Third, the first noble truth and the middle way. Fourth, the second noble truth and
conditions of suffering. Fifth, the third noble truth and craving. Finally, the fourth noble truth and
eliminating craving.
First, the Buddhas teaching had spread through India and throughout Asia. Siddhartha
Gautama followers called him the enlightened one because he devoted his life to teach the way
of overcoming suffering. He thought life could be lived without suffering, that it could be
eliminated. His teachings of overcoming suffering, teachings of the noble fourfold truth and
noble eightfold path, always been the heart of Buddhism. 1
Second, the noble fourfold truth was taught by the Buddha shortly after his
enlightenment. The noble fourfold truth has four parts: Truth of what suffering is, condition of
the emerge of suffering, eliminating suffering, and remove suffering by following the middle
way. The meaning of noble is worthy assent and respect, it is valuable in human effort
understand and eliminate suffering. Describing the noble truth as teaching the middle path,
Buddha emphasized its value. Saying that it gives vision, it gives knowledge, and it leads to
calm, to insight, to enlightenment. 1
1 Asian Philosophies by John M. Koller Pg. 43
Herrera 2
Third, the first noble truth, Buddha explained the middle path and concerning the truth of
suffering. The Noble Truth of suffering is: birth is suffering; aging is suffering; sickness is
suffering; death is suffering; sorrow and lamentation, pain, grief and despair are suffering; not to
get what one wants is suffering. The five aggregates of attachment are suffering2. There are
three levels of suffering. The fist level is normal to suffering but birth, sickness, death,
unpleasant, absent pleasant, separate of love ones, and unsatisfied desires. The second level is
that suffering of change, experience of suffering, and happy moments is temporary. The third
level there is process of existence of suffering and giving rise to the first two levels.
Fourth, the second noble truth, Buddha explained the conditions of suffering. The Noble truth of
the origin of suffering is this; it is this craving which produces re-existence and re-becoming,
bound up with passionate greed. It finds fresh delight now here and now there, namely, craving
for sense-pleasures; craving for existence and becoming; and craving for nonexistence.3
Suffering is caused by something that one cannot have which is craving, the primary is
ignorance.
Five, the third noble truth is eliminating the craving. Buddha said, the noble truth of the
Cessation of suffering is this: it is the complete cessation of the very craving, giving it up,
renouncing it, emancipating oneself from it, detaching oneself from it.4 Extinguished means
craving to separate and permanent selfhood. The Buddhist goal is positive, life free from
suffering. Refer to joy and peaceful of life free from suffering, extinguishing craving and
separateness in ones life.
2 Asian Philosophies by John M. Koller Pg. 44
3 Asian Philosophies by John M. Koller Pg. 46
4 Asian Philosophies by John M. Koller Pg. 47
Herrera 3
Finally, the fourth noble truth: the eightfold noble path, eliminating craving will also eliminate
suffering then it will transform into happiness. In the words of Buddha the noble truth of the
path leading to the cessation of suffering is this: it is simply the noble eightfold path, namely,
right thought; right speech; right action; right livelihood; right effort; right mindfulness; right
concentration. Eightfold path is a guide to life and to eliminate ignorance and craving. Three
guidance of conduct of life: wisdom, moral conduct, and mental discipline. Wisdom is the right
of view and right intention. Moral conduct is right speech, right action, and right livelihood.
Mental discipline is right mindfulness and right concentration.