Faith Foundations

Buddhism Reflection Paper

In a 3-4 page double-spaced 12 pt. font MLA style personal reflection paper, please respond to the following: From God Is Not One, by Stephen Prothero (author of Religious Literacy): The Third Noble Truth observes that, since suffering has a cause, it can be eliminated. If we wake up to the way the world really is, in all its flux and flow, and stop clinging to things that are by their nature running through our fingers, then we can achieve nirvana. But what is this blowing out? Nirvana is often described in negative terms as the extinguishing of thirst, grasping, suffering, greed, hate, delusion, and rebirth. More positively it is said to be a peace that is beyond our ken. But nirvana is not some static place you go to after death. It can be achieved in this lifetime. Explain how it is possible for a Buddhist, and specifically yourself, to attain nirvana in this lifetime, however momentarily. Include how the following are tools in this process: *** 3 Marks of Existence how does knowledge and deep understanding of anatta, anicca, dukkha (and its cause, tanha) result in less suffering and thus increase chances of nirvana? ***Noble Eightfold Path pick one from each category (wisdom, morality, concentration), and walk through in a detailed way how personally practicing them could result in less dukkha and thus increase chances for nirvana.