The Four Noble Truths

Bowser

Bowser

Namaste
Valued Senior Member
1. Thus is the Noble Truth of Suffering
2. Thus is the Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering
3. Thus is the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering
4. Thus is the Noble Truth of the Path that leads to the Cessation of Suffering

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Noble_Truths

So, what is the point of abandoning your desires? You're still going to suffer in life whether you grave for something or not. I honestly think that life would be boring without our desires. Any thoughts?
 
Bowser said:
Come on now, you don't really believe that. If I break my leg walking to work tomorrow, I'm going to suffer. It has nothing to do with desire.
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Do feel free not to tell me what I do and do not believe.

Think about why you were out walking..
 
glaucon said:
Do feel free not to tell me what I do and do not believe.

Think about why you were out walking..
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Doing what I must. Nobody will do it for me. That's a fact of life--shelter, food, and other necessities.
 
Bowser said:
Doing what I must. Nobody will do it for me. That's a fact of life--shelter, food, and other necessities.
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If you think it was necessary, then you haven't run the analysis far back enough.
 
glaucon said:
If you think it was necessary, then you haven't run the analysis far back enough.
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Dude, the alternative is to be homeless, begging for handouts, and living the life of a monk. That sounds like suffering to me. There's no Nirvana in deprivation.
 
Bowser said:
Dude, the alternative is to be homeless, begging for handouts, and living the life of a monk. That sounds like suffering to me. There's no Nirvana in deprivation.
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If that's the only alternative you can conceive of, I pity you.

You may have read it, but you've understood nothing.
 
glaucon said:
If that's the only alternative you can conceive of, I pity you.

You may have read it, but you've understood nothing.
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And you have explained nothing. Someone must plow the fields, sow the seed, and do what must be done. There's no escaping the facts of life. And if I break my leg in the effort, I'm going to suffer. How will Buddhism save me from my suffering?
 
Bowser said:
And you have explained nothing. Someone must plow the fields, sow the seed, and do what must be done. There's no escaping the facts of life. And if I break my leg in the effort, I'm going to suffer. How will Buddhism save me from my suffering?
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I'm not here to explain anything. You have everything taught to you???

Those things are facts, simply because you say they are...
 
glaucon said:
Those things are facts, simply because you say they are...
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Don't Buddhist eat? Surely they are as dependent on food as I am. How do they survive without food? The truth is, they would starve if not for the charity of those who do suffer. Necessity is not a desire.

Nonetheless, what's wrong with desire? It motivates us into action. Even if we don't realize our dreams, we at least tried.
 
Buddhists serve the task, and do it well, no matter who or not may be looking. I knew the Great Lama of the U.S. East (there is another in the West), for I ate at his cafe (anyone want to hear about it?) Many do feel that life here is unreal.

I would only note that it also takes a great desire to undo desires, and that nature really didn't get things wrong, but it may have gone overboard in some areas, such as insuring that reproduction would happen.
 
SciWriter said:
I would only note that it also takes a great desire to undo desires, and that nature really didn't get things wrong, but it may have gone overboard in some areas, such as insuring that reproduction would happen.
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Well, I'm not overflowing with desires, but I still have a few, and I think they are a good thing for the most part.
 
Bowser said:
So, what is the point of abandoning your desires? You're still going to suffer in life whether you grave for something or not. I honestly think that life would be boring without our desires. Any thoughts?
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There are two kinds of desires:

One are the desires for material happiness; having those desires fulfilled makes us unhappy, sooner or later.

The other is the desire for the liberation of suffering.
 
Bowser said:
And you have explained nothing. Someone must plow the fields, sow the seed, and do what must be done. There's no escaping the facts of life. And if I break my leg in the effort, I'm going to suffer. How will Buddhism save me from my suffering?
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If you're serious about this question, then go and inquire from actual Buddhists. Visit a Buddhist temple, center or public lecture and ask your questions there.
 
Bowser said:
And you have explained nothing. Someone must plow the fields, sow the seed, and do what must be done. There's no escaping the facts of life. And if I break my leg in the effort, I'm going to suffer. How will Buddhism save me from my suffering?
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The very teachings of earthly life in buddhism is exactly the opposite of saving you from your suffering. It is to understand how suffering is needed, how to self analyze (zen branch specificaly) and deal with these sufferings in the most productive way.

Learning the four Noble truths is in itself to understand this about suffering.

Escaping the realms of Samsara is another story, Achieving Nirvana, Learning buddhism is good for your brain but it isnt the total answer.

Peace.
 
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