The Fundamental Goal Of Buddhism - 1543 Words

The first of the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism is that life as we know it is unsatisfactory. Life is filled with suffering; there is pain, old age, sickness and death. Nothing in the world is permanent, or able to provide substantial satisfaction. This might seem like a very cynical outlook, but the three remaining truths explain the cause of suffering and how it can be overcome. In Buddhist doctrine, the key to overcoming suffering is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path. The first step of the Eightfold Path is to see the world in the right way.1 Seeing the world in the right view is the key to understanding and relieving suffering. The fundamental goal of Buddhism is to follow the Eightfold path to reach a state of nirvana, or peace of†¦show more content†¦Instead, the brain is plastic, and our quota of happiness can be enhanced through mental training.4† He is saying that happiness is determined by the way an individual views the world. The brain is not set in its way of preserving emotion, and with practice, the brain can be molded to allow constructive emotions to enrich the mind. This idea of brain training is located at the core of meditation, and used as a way of fulfilling the Nobel Eightfold Path. Allan Wallace, one of the attendees of the conference, has studied at Buddhist monasteries for many years, and has taught Buddhist theory and practice across the world. During the conference Wallace, stated â€Å"When it comes not just to understanding mental affliction and how to grapple with those, but also how to move into exceptional states of mental health, Buddhism has an enormous amount to offer the West.3† Mental illness is the result of allowing destructive emotions to control balance in the brain. According to the Dalai Lama, emotions become destructive the moment they disrupt the mind’s equilibrium. Destructive emotions can be everything from low self-esteem to overconfidence. Constructive emotions would be things such as self-respect, integrity, compassion, and love. However, even constructive emotions can turn destructive if they cause imbalance in the brain. For example, if love weighs heavily in an individual’s life it creates attachment. When the things the individual loves are