Self in the Eastern Thought

ScSc 12-Understanding the Self

Self
 Buddhistic Tradition
• Derived from the teachings
of Siddharta Gautama (also
known as the Buddha “the
awakened one”)
Four Noble Truths
1) Dukkha: Truth of Suffering

• Physical: life includes birth, decay, disease, death,

age, sorrow, pain
• mental/psychological: depression, anxiety,
loneliness, frustration, boredom, fear,
embarrassment, anger, etc.
Four Noble Truths
2) Samudaya: there is a cause of this suffering
• cause by craving (for pleasure, existence/non-
existence) and the need to control things
bound up with passionate greed and
selfishness
Four Noble Truths
3) Nirodha: suffering could be ended
-complete cessation of suffering and happening
can be attained; true happiness and
contentment are possible
-Giving up, renouncing, emancipating, detaching
oneself from cravings and desires
 Nirvana

happy and free (not dwelling in the past or

the imagined future)
Four Noble Truths
4) Magga: path to the cessation of suffering
• to end suffering, you must follow the noble
eightfold path
• Buddha and other Buddhists have followed to
reach the state free from misery
“Never search your happiness in others. It
will make you feel alone. Search it in
yourself and you will feel happy even left
alone.”

“Don't compare your life to others. There's

no comparison between the sun and the
moon. They shine when it's their it's their
time.”