REL 133 WEEK 3
The three marks of reality are the foundation for the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. These key building blocks give Buddhists a way of looking at the world. The first mark of reality is change. This refers to the fact that life and the world is in a constant change. Everything is gradually changing daily but we only notice them after a while. Basically, the universe is in flux. The second mark of reality is no permanent identity. Basically, this is Buddha’s thinking that a human being really isn’t a human being. A human being is made up of all sorts of different parts in which Buddha believes are always constantly changing so a person really isn’t just a person. Buddha believes that we have constantly changing identities, bodies, and souls. The third mark of reality is known as suffering. Basically, Buddha believes that if you are living a conventional life, you will never be truly satisfied because it is ever changing. Even though Buddha clearly admits that living conventionally is worse than non-conventional, no matter what, he admits no one can escape any suffering throughout their lives. The Four Noble Truths consist of Buddhist teachings that link a chain of truths about life. The first noble truth is to live is to suffer. Living means sorrow to sum up the first one. From the day were born to the day we die were bogged down with the daily grind of life. The second Noble Truth is suffering comes from desire. This means lusting over things we cannot have. Who in the world doesn’t want what they can’t have? I can safely say there’s too many people to count that want something that they don’t have. The third Noble Truth is to end suffering, end desire. Basically a person should strive more for inner peace and less for happiness. Accept that you cannot change the world but you can change yourself. The fourth Noble Truth is release from suffering is possible and can be attained by following the Noble Eightfold path. Nirvana is the ultimate goal of Buddhism. Nirvana means that your desires are gone and you have inner peace. The Noble Eightfold path is the way to inner peace and the steps Buddha taught. The first one is right understanding which means that you understand the first three marks of reality. The second one is right intention which means the same as the second and third Noble Truth. The third one is right speech which means you avoid harsh words, honestly, and kindly. The forth one is right action which means do not hurt others and avoid stealing and sexual conduct that would bring hurt. The fifth one is right work which means have a job that does no harm to self or others. The sixth one is right effort which means use moderation to strive to improve. The seventh one is right meditation which means use the disciples of meditation and focused awareness to contemplate the nature of reality more deeply. The eighth one is right contemplation which means to cultivate states of inner peace.
2. Describe the three major Buddhist traditions—Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana—and how each tradition developed from the early teachings.
Basically, there are three great branches of Buddhism today. Theravada is commonly referred to today as the conservative movement. Theravada means the way of the elders. This schools big teaching points were to reach nirvana, desirelessness and detachment through meditation. Theravada believes that a lay person cannot achieve nirvana. This school has claimed to keep its teachings unchanged; it is not believed to be true because the school is relatively conservative. The teachings were originally passed
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