RELS 1506 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Dukkha, Impermanence, Noble Eightfold Path

• School: University of Iowa
• Department: Religious Studies
• Course: RELS 1506
• Professor: Kalzang Bhutia

Document Summary

The buddha(cid:859)s tea(cid:272)hi(cid:374)g= solutio(cid:374) to a pro(cid:271)le(cid:373): dukkha: (cid:858)sufferi(cid:374)g(cid:859), the pro(cid:271)le(cid:373) of life, u(cid:374)satisfa(cid:272)tori(cid:374)ess. Basic orientation of buddhism= 4 noble truths. Truth of nature of path leading to cessation: these are 4 realities, whose nature the buddha understood when he awoke. Starting point= reality of suffering: even when we are happy, that we know this may change. Pain and pleasure, happiness and unhappiness are linked: dukkha can also be present in conditions, many historians believe the reason buddhism became so popular 4th and 3rd century bce in india. Because there was a lot of suffering. If they(cid:859)re spectacularly happy, it may be hard to see impermanence: opposite: those who are constantly miserable may miss the subtle teachings. Buddha(cid:859)s teaching= medicine for disease of suffering. Complicated: does(cid:374)(cid:859)t i(cid:374)(cid:448)ol(cid:448)e (cid:271)elief i(cid:374) (cid:272)reator god. Yet activities otherwise thought to be religious= considered practical. Buddhism presents a system of training that(cid:859)ll lead to cessation of. The buddha refused to answer these questions.