The Five Buddhist Precepts

The impacts of Buddhist teachings and the worshipping of individuals in the buddhist community, enabled those in society to reflect upon their ethics. This notion is evident through the buddhist ethical teachings that governs our morals, decisions and actions established as a result of the Dalai Lama’s philosophical teachings of peace, which is further supported by the notion of “Puja”, the act of devotional attention and offerings.

Critically discuss the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism, explaining the reasons or arguments given by Buddhism to support these Truths and discussing at least one objection that could be raised against the first Noble Truth and one objection that could be raised against thesecond Noble Truth.

Buddhism teaches people to live honorably and follow the Eightfold Path to reach release from the state of infinite re-incarnation and reach nirvana, which means the end of the life cycle by living a life full of dignity and refuse from all other attachments causing their desires and strifes McKay et al., 2008)

Critically discuss the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism, explaining the reasons or arguments given by Buddhism to support these Truths and discussing at least one objection that could be raised against the first Noble Truth and one objection that could be raised against the second Noble Truth.

In Buddhism, knowledge is gained through a series of works and scriptures. Aside from the collection of scriptures, families also teach Buddhists between right and wrong. Buddhism also has the Five Moral Precepts, which are: do not kill or harm anything living, do not steal, do not engage in sexual misconduct, do not lie and do not consume intoxicants, such as tobacco, alcohol or mind-altering drugs (ElGindy, 2013). Family is very important in Buddhism (Chen, 2016). In Buddhism, the meaning of human history is to achieve Nirvana.

Benjamin Franklin, American humanists, inventor, and writer during the Age of Reason, wrote in his autobiography that, “[He] knew…what was right and wrong …[and] concluded that the mere speculative conviction that it was [everyone’s] interest to be completely virtuous,” (Franklin 69). Franklin portrays the importance of virtues, and that doing good will help one’s life become a success. Franklin wishes the populous to do good so that everyone’s life will benefit from outstanding accomplishments. People do good deeds everyday to benefit the world around them. Buddhists, for example, believe in practicing the Five Precepts, which are the basic code of ethics: (1) one should not kill another living being, (2) one should not take anything that is not given or offered, (3) one should not commit adultery, (4) one should not tell fibs, and (5) one should not drink alcohol or intoxicate him or herself in any way (“Basic Buddhism Guide”). By practicing these Precepts, Buddhists serve their fellow beings by honoring their rights. Buddhists wish to better the world by undertaking such ambitious duties. Unlike the Puritans, Buddhists do not believe there is a god, so when one sabotages a Precept, he or she must reflect on the misdeed, and analyze how the treachery can be avoided in the future.

How did the invasions, and attempted conquest of Alexander, aid Chandragupta Maurya to build his empire in northern India? How did his grandson Ashoka manage to govern his large and diverse empire?

The sermon by Buddha informs people about the five precepts of Buddhism. The Five Percepts are one shall not harm living things, take what's not given, misuse sex, lie, or use alcohol or drugs. Buddha says people will suffer in America due to wishing for fame and fortune. He speaks about using internet and television as a gateway to filter into people's desires. He takes the people step by step into how to reach enlightenment.

The ethical guidelines of Buddhism are not to murder, lie, steal, drink, or participate in unlawful sexual behavior. Buddhists believe in the “Four Noble Truths: 1) human life is full of suffering; 2) suffering stems from cravings for pleasure and avoidance of pain; 3) suffering can be eradicated; 4) the path of freedom from suffering is the path of enlightenment.” (Julia Hardy) They also follow the Noble Eightfold Path in order to achieve the end of suffering. The Eightfold Path consists of: 1) Samma-Ditthi - Right view or understanding, 2) Samma-Sankappa - Right thought or attitude, 3) Samma-Vaca - Right speech, 4) Samma-Kammanta - Right Action, 5)

In Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha, the four Noble Truths of Buddhism are revealed throughout the journey of Siddhartha. The Four Noble Truths include: Life means suffering, the origin of suffering is attachment, the cessation of suffering is attainable, and the path to the cessation of suffering. Siddhartha discovers that in order to reach enlightenment, one must have experiences and struggle through these Noble Truths firsthand.

While many of the sects differed in some practices and beliefs, the core principles of Buddhism often remained prominent. One core principle from Mahayana Buddhism, one of the main two branches of Buddhism, was the pursuit of becoming a bodhisattva (Andreasen, 4). Bodhisattva was literally a “Being of Wisdom”, which meant one who is close to achieving enlightenment, or Nirvana, but delays enlightenment in order to help others achieve enlightenment (Wangu, 52). Another core principle of Buddhism was the high ethical code that was practiced. This discouraged immoral behavior, such as cheating and stealing, and instead encouraged living a simple and frugal life, devoid of extensive pleasures and self-denial (Bellah, 107). Like Shinto, Buddhists were very tolerant of other religions and were very willing to practice multiple practices.

Growing up in a Buddhist family, I was taught to abide by important values such as respect and kindness. “Morality, self-awareness, act for the benefit of others” are all the things that I learned early on from Buddhism.

In each an every precept in Buddhism you have to respect those five rules in order to follow the path to enlightenment. Similar to the four noble truths the first noble truth talks about dhukha: frustration, dissatisfaction, incompleteness, suffering and sorrow. The Buddha quoted in the first noble truth “Life is change and change can never satisfy desire. Therefore everything that changes brings suffering.”(Eknath 43) Similarly to the five precepts to follow these rules you must change but by changing you will also suffered from it. Another connection between the two is the second noble truth when it talks about the cause of suffering comes from trishna “the thirst to get what ones want and to gets ones own way”. (44) Again similar to the precepts every one of the rules revolves on thirst for something or someone just like the craving for meat or the need to on the Internet. And lastly the fourth noble truth when it talks about “The Eightfold Path to Enlightenment”(44) same as the five precepts that was built as a practise to set a path to understanding enlightenment through respect the principals of the practise and understanding their reasoning. The precepts relate to the overall Buddhist worldview because it focuses on the importance of following those rules and when they are broken one should be aware of the breech and examine how such a breech may be avoided in the future. The resultant of an action (karma) depends on the intention more than the action itself. It entails less feelings of guilt. Buddhism places a great importance on 'mind' and it is mental suffering such as remorse, anxiety, guilt etc. should to be avoided in order to cultivate a calm and peaceful

The Buddhism religion focus on the tormented with suffering and death that all comes from the mind. Buddha taught the way of free one’s mind from suffering is to have insight into what is truly is. This is achieving through mindfulness the ability to have deep meditation (vipassana). In addition, the Buddha teaching encompass the triple gem (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha) these are also referring to as the three refuges. The Buddha is the person who has had the Experience of Enlightenment (Nibbana). As such, the dharma is the teaching of Buddha to finding the truth way of things. They are the four noble truth the eightfold path or middle way and the five Buddhist precepts. The Sangha is the community of where the practice the religion (Fundamental

The quote comes from the story of a man who abandoned all he previously had in order to seek enlightenment and happiness through Zen Buddhism. In essence, he was trying to escape from the life of suffering he was currently living. He is receiving from harada-roshi what can be regarded as one of the core beliefs of the Buddhist religion. That is that every person has the ability to be a wise as the Buddha, but he can only achieve it through discipline.