Why Buddhism Is the Most Inspiring Philosophy to Me, Essay Example

Buddhism is the most inspiring philosophy to me for understanding meaning of human existence or human life-purpose. The first concept which caught my attention pertains to emptiness. The Sunlan interpretation emphasizes spiritual emptiness in articulating linguistic emptiness. Precisely, the contention relates that the nature and characteristics of all dharma lies in emptiness. Also, the dependant causation and everything else lack reality. Further, awareness of emptiness is perceived as ultimate reality and attainment of wisdom indicating that dependant causation is useless if someone does not feel empty of all worldly knowledge and concerns (Chinese Mahayana Buddhist Schools, 2013).

These perspectives are refreshing when taken into a deeper level. In reality knowledge outside of accounting for human spirituality is useless. For example, if one were to think about breathing without understanding the influence of spirit then reality may be missing. Sunlan school of thought argues that the cause has an underlying cause, but in the end it is nothing if it cannot be related to the emptiness of spirit. In my point of view this philosophy is profound because regardless of how many degrees one may obtain as knowledge, property, wealth children or friends emptiness still exists once there is no recognition of spirit. Sprit is the emptiness that people seek to fill as a void when trying to acquire material things (Chinese Mahayana Buddhist Schools, 2013).

Importantly, it was further expressed that there are three types of wisdom. First it is genuine wisdom defined as clear sound insight into emptiness as the Ultimate Reality; secondly illuminant wisdom, which emptiness is used to enlighten everything to see they are empty and are but facets of the same Ultimate Reality. Thirdly, linguistic wisdom is the ability to apply linguistic devices that expose emptiness in everything and shed light on link between Ultimate Reality and its numerous elements (Chinese Mahayana Buddhist Schools, 2013).

In my perception of wisdom and emptiness as it pertains to understanding the meaning of human existence or human life-purpose Buddhism seems to ignite my soul through many concepts. Beside emptiness causality is another vital conception essential to living. Sultan communicates profoundly to anyone who wants to practice Buddhism that one must go deeper into the soul in finding their purpose. Ultimately, it is posited that ‘if things are produced by something else, the process would be unlimited, and if there is a limit, there is no cause. From these two points, one may not believe in the existence of cause or effects’ (Chinese Mahayana Buddhist Schools, 2013).

In today‘s world always if someone meets any misfortune the perfect finger is immediately pointed towards a cause and often it is identified in mind. There is solace in Buddhism knowing that alternative interpretations are available and people, can be relieved of guilt, which hinders human progress for enjoying oneness with the divine. The two fold truth I believe explains reality of human existence and purpose. Importantly, the realization that dharma in itself is empty the perceptions of duality and non-duality are worldly without any spiritual value. However, clarity emerges in acknowledging that non-duality is a pure and true view of life (Chinese Mahayana Buddhist Schools, 2013).

It would appear belief in duality produces all problems in human existence and life purpose. Ultimately, by demolishing the perverse and upholding truth creates a foundation for successful living. Tiantai advanced three basic doctrines. First is the perfect harmony of the three levels of truth. These three levels of truth precisely pertain to truth of emptiness; the truth of hypothesis and the truth of middle path. These harmonize by mind in creating only true reality. If reality is emptiness then these three truths harmonize to bring a person towards an understanding on emptiness (Chinese Mahayana Buddhist Schools, 2013).

Supporting philosophical paradigms advance that there is one mind in the universe. It is the mind of God or Supreme Being. Every human existence expresses various aspects of God Mind as inventions unfold and scientific discoveries are made. Then if Buddha’s doctrine argues that Mind, which in my interpretation is a supreme mind spelt with a capital ‘M’ is reality therefore, human interpretation of God is reality. Knowing and understanding that God is wisdom ultimately reality will be achieved. More importantly, in exploring an understanding regarding the meaning of human existence or human life-purpose it would encompass me as human deliberately making attempts to find reality, emptiness and what some schools of thought perceive as God. Purpose from these deliberations is wrapped up in an emptiness package. It is opening this package through mind articulation can human grasp the reality of emptiness (Huayan School, 2013).

Consequently, it would be that life and death are facets of reality, emptiness, God which human mind has to unravel in discovering the very purpose of existence in a body or on earth as a human. It is my desire to learn more about emptiness, reality, Mind and God since it seems from Buddhism as unfolding to me the truth about me being a human expression of spirit. Foundations of the philosophy lies in one’s acknowledgement of his/her own spiritual emptiness. It would appear that life journey is all about attaining this emptiness which is in contradiction to things mundane (Huayan School, 2013).

The second basic doctrine specifies that the only true nature of all dharma is that there is no self-nature. Bases on supporting philosophical thinking self-nature could mean the part of human existence that moves him/her away from the truth. It proves a unique understanding of human existence. Further it is shown here dharmas frequently come into existence and go out of it. My interpretation of this in a deeper sense pertains to explaining death and life. Supporting schools of thought relating human existence advance philosophical assumptions concerning the soul re-embodying itself (Huayan School, 2013).

If there is no reality in human existence it could also be projected that there is no permanency. Therefore, it can be concluded that life in a body is far from real since it lacks emptiness contained in spirit. Reality could then be interpreted as any phase of human existence or experience that is permanent. In my opinion these are question which every human asks when on this life journey. Often there are no or few answers to address these concerns. From reading about Buddhism some clarity regarding how emptiness came into being as part of human purpose and reality are answered daily (Weishi on Buddha nature, 2013).

In comparison to other Classical Confucianism Buddhism resonates within my soul offering district explanations regarding why I am on earth as a human and more importantly why I am here. The third truth I have learnt from Buddhism concerns three thousand worlds in an instant thought. This was unbelievable that we function in so many worlds as a human existence flowing into our purpose (Tiantai School, 2013).

The major difference between classical Confucianism and Buddhism lies in the metaphysical interpretation of human existence. Classical Confucianism emerged in response to a belief that Buddhists and Daoists were mythical traditions. In fact both Buddhists and Daoists offered more profound metaphysical interpretations of human existence as was exposed in the foregoing discussions pertaining to Buddhism being the most inspiring philosophy to me for understanding meaning of human existence or human life-purpose. Buddhism viewed metaphysics as the foundation for religious enlightenment, spiritual development and immortality. Classical Confucianism merely applied metaphysics towards developing rationalist ethical philosophy and not pertaining to human existence in itself.

Works cited

Chinese Mahayana Buddhist Schools. Lecture. 2013. Power Point

Huayan School. Lecture. 2013. Power Point

Tiantai School. Lecture. 2013. Power Point

Weishi on Buddha nature. Lecture. 2013. Power Point