Buddhism: Suffering and Solutions, Research Paper Example

The causes of suffering in Buddhism go hand in hand with a set of proposed solutions.  While suffering is rooted in ignorance and desire, the path towards enlightenment will ultimately result in the overcoming of this, and the attainment of Nirvana, or eternal peace.  By following the correct path, the eightfold path, a person can attain oneness with the universe, and the attainment of Nirvana.

The idea of suffering in Buddhism is focused around the notion of Dukkha.  This is essentially the root of suffering.  While many negative things happen in life, this idea contends that all of suffering or anxiety can be attributed to a singular cause.  With this assumption, it should be possible, by examining the essential causes of this suffering, to eradicate it from life by taking care of the source.

Dukkha is the first of the Four Noble Truths.  These truths discuss the idea of Dukkha, its origin, the fact that it can be overcome.  By understanding these four truths, and following the path prescibed by the Buddha, a person seeking enlightenment will have a framework that will help them to overcome their suffering.  By doing so, they will be able to overcome the desires and ignorance of life and reach Nirvana.

Suffering, or Dukkha, is essentially rooted in the ignorance of mortality.  The fact that people have to suffer and die, and that they really don’t know why, is something that leads to anxiety, and so also suffering.  The symptoms of suffering include issues such as sickness, death, anxiety, and stress.  Those who are suffering are essentially dissatisfied with their lives.  For this reason, it is important for them to follow the eightfold path towards enlightenment.

The second of the four noble truths is concerned with the origin of suffering.  Suffering is ultimately caused by our inability to comprehend the things that we see throughout our lives.  It is contended that suffering has its origins in desire that is given life through ignorance within life and our inability to understand it.  By meditating on these ideas, a person can hope to understand them, and so reach enlightenment.

The obliteration or the cessation of suffering can be achieved through the attainment of enlightenment, which overcomes this ignorance that leads to suffering.  By doing so a person can reach a state of nirvana, or oneness, and an understanding of the basic nature of the universe.  This is achieved by cultivating a deeper understanding of the root causes of suffering.  By understanding the nature of the world, the suffering caused by ignorance can be overcome.

Path to Cessation, or the Noble Eightfold Path.  This is achieved through letting go of the desires that cause people to desire as well as the ignorance that goes along with it.  The eightfold path is essentially a guide for how to attain wisdom, lead a moral life, and come to a fundamentally deeper understanding of the world through meditation.

The achievement of wisdom can be achieved through seeing the world in the correct light and having the correct intentions towards it.  The correct moral or ethical path can be achieved by speaking and acting in a morally correct way and living a life that offers no harm towards the world.  The path towards finding a deeper understanding of the world through meditation can be achieved through putting forth the correct effort, having enough concentration, and having a greater awareness of the world.