Towards the end of the Vedic period in India,the priestly class had become dominant due to the greater emphasis on rituals.This lead to the growth of superstition.At the same time the cast system had given rise to social discrimination.
This discrimination was based on individuals cast and not on his capabilities.Some castes came to be superior and other inferior.In such conditions many thinkers like Kapila,Charvak,Vardhaman Mahavir, Gautama Buddha etc. made efforts to reduce superstition. The teachings of Gautama Buddha where easy to understand and practice in day to day life.
Gautama Buddha provided answers to questions like ‘What is the nature of human life?’ and ‘Why does man have to undergo suffering?’ in the form of four noble truths.
1.Dukkha(Suffering):Human life is full of suffering.
2.Trisha(Desire):The cause of suffering is desire or craving.
3.Dukkha -nirodh:It is possible to end suffering.
4.Pratipad:The way to end of suffering.
The way shown by him to end suffering is known as astang marg or the eight fold path.The eight principles are
1.Right view
2.Right thought/concept
3.Right speech
4.Right action
5.Right livelihood
6.Right effort
7.Right memory
8.Right concentration
Panchasheel:These are the rules of conduct that are to be followed along with eight-fold path.
1.Ahimsa(Non-violence):No living thing should be hurt.
2.Satya(Truth):One should not tell lies.
3.Asteya:One should not steal.
4.Indriya Samyam:One should win control over bodily desires.
5.One should not take intoxicants.
Reblogged this on Higher Density Blog.
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Thanks for sharing this blog with me and others! Have a nice day!
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Hello you have a good weblog over here! Thanks for sharing this interesting stuff for us! If you keep up the good work I’ll visit your weblog again. Thanks!
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I like it. You have, even briefly, such a great overview of the Siddharthian concept. Not the greatest thinker ever- but similiar in his boldness is Tony Robins, the American anti-addiction, pro-happiness guru. I call Buddha a giant Tony Robbins as he meant to help people who want to prosper and be persistant. Buddha never claimed that I know to be descended from heaven, better than human or God. The historical start to this blog is so essential to show 1000s of years of the persistance to demystify rather than lead and keep people dumb. I learned something here, too. Buddha had contemporaries. I did not know that. I did know the path details and 4 nobels. As a Pascalian, I see overlap to my faith in scriptures of Christ and I consider him my gateless gate. My God is my pavement, under my feet and the shelter I am in, the life in my body. I am ill a lot, so I choose endurance and not let it “suck”. In this tight squeeze, I find ease. Thanks for visiting my blog- I appreciate it!
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This is wonderful, the thoughts are very conducive to the right kind of quiet inspiration, the sort that gives real inner courage and real inner peace. Thanks.
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Hi – Dukkha is unfortunately usually translated as ‘suffering’ which isn’t quite right’ – the reality that . Its more like ‘unsatisfactory’ – the reality that all conditioned events cannot provide spiritual sustenance. In English the word suffering is too loaded and negative. 😉
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erikleo what you said is true. Whenever we translate a book, a poem or any other work in another language the true meaning on the original work gets affected.
And it’s also true in case of Gautama Buddha’s teachings which is originally written in Pali language. When we translate this then the true meaning gets affected. But we cant do much about it because Suffering is the only word which resembles to Dukkha.
Thank you for your feedback.;-)
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I thought you might enjoy this mnemonic device I composed:
“8 Worldly Dharmas”
Confused, we cling to “this,” from that we flee,
Not seeing ways we cause our misery.
A person never finds himself at peace
Unless aware he must begin to cease
Recoiling from DISGRACE, embracing FAME,
Desiring only PRAISE, while dreading BLAME,
Lamenting LOSS, obsessing over GAIN,
Pursuing PLEASURE, and avoiding PAIN.
P.S. As a poem, the piece, I know, is a bit too heavy-handed and didactic.
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The “he” and “him” reflects the need to stick to the meter; the use of masculine pronouns here is not intentional insensitivity to women.
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Great summary of Buddhist teaching, or outlook! (I’d maybe change to, not seeing THE way. ;-))
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Thank you for your reply!
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Thanks for visiting Artsyberger! The older I get the more often I find that Buddhist philosophy matches my experience.
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