Achieving Nirvana | Buddhism
About 2,500 years ago, an Indian prince called Siddhartha Gautama sat quietly in a place known as Deer Park at Sarnath. From here, he began to offer simple teachings, that he referred to as the dharma → “truth”. These were instructions on how to free oneself from suffering.
Quick facts about Siddhartha Gautama 📝
- At 29, he had a mindblowing realization 🤯 — wealth and luxury DID NOT guarantee happiness.
- after 6 years of study and meditation, he found the “middle path” and was enlightened.
- Buddhists believe Gautama found enlightenment while meditating under a Bodhi tree
- He then spent the rest of his life teaching the principles of Buddhism.
Main Teachings of Buddism:
The aim of Buddism is to reach a state of nirvana.
Nirvana is a place of perfect peace and happiness, like heaven. In Hinduism and Buddhism, nirvana is the highest state that someone can attain, a state of enlightenment, meaning a person’s individual desires and suffering go away.
This belief emphasizes meditation and how much it helps achieve this state.
“Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance.”
The Buddha taught many things, but the basic concepts in Buddhism can be summed up by the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.
Noble Truths
1. Life is suffering
This means that life includes pain, getting old and ultimately death. This is a fact that cannot be denied, and we need to be realistic about it. Buddhism explains how exactly this suffering can be avoided.
2. Suffering is caused by craving and aversion.
Budha believed that we will suffer if we expect other people to match our expectations, or if we really want people to like us this will cause suffering. To make it simple — getting what you want does not guarantee happiness. Wanting anything makes us less happy.
So it might seem like Budha reallyyy emphasizes on suffering. What about happiness? That’s the third truth!
3. Suffering can be overcome and happiness can be achieved.
lf we give up useless craving and learn to live each day at a time (not dwelling in the past or the imagined future) then we can become happy and free. We then have more time and energy to help others. This is Nirvana — the state I mentioned above.
4. The Noble 8-fold Path is the path that leads to the end of suffering.
→ Noble 8-Fold Path = Moral Path
Eightfold Path of Buddhism teaches the following ideals for mental disciple and achieving wisdom:
- Right understanding
- Right thought
- Right speech
- Right action
- Right livelihood
- Right effort
- Right mindfulness
- Right concentration
Buddhist Practices
Karma
This is a key element of a Buddhist lifestyle.
Karma is the belief that everything that you do has a weight of “good” or “bad”, and when your life ends, your overall karma will be judged.
The Buddhists believe in Karma and how that everything you do comes back to you.
Dharma
= the reality of the world and your life
Dharma changes constantly and is altered by the way you see and interact with the world, as well as the choices you make.
To incorporate this concept into your lifestyle — live in the moment, be present.
Key Takeaways 🔑
Buddism tries to:
- to lead a moral life
- to be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions
- to develop wisdom and understanding.
Four Noble Truths:
1. Life is suffering
2. Suffering is caused by craving and aversion.
3. Suffering can be overcome and happiness can be achieved.
4. The Noble 8-fold Path is the path that leads to the end of suffering.
Eightfold Path of Buddhism:
- The moral path that leads to the end of suffering
Meditation = Buddist Lifestyle
- allows one to be at one with their inner peace and suffering and is the first step towards nirvana.
📌 Start implementing this lifestyle:
Live in the moment and appreciate the life that you have. Be grateful, be thankful, and spend every day working towards nirvana.
If you found this philosophy interesting — check out this video!
Questions? Send me an email: rnavya2012@gmail.com
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