Sobrevilla, Wella P.
BSCE - 1103
BUDDHISM
Over 2600 years ago, Buddhism originated from India and now evolved as a major
influencing culture. Siddhartha Gautama, founder of Buddhism, was born from a royal family,
however, he decided to explore the true nature of reality through his own effort and
determination. Within these, his teaching allows us to understand the reality; life entails
suffering.
In watching the 10 minutes video, I have been interested in the line, “no one would do it
for you”. The entailment of the background story of discovery caught my attention, as from
stated beforehand, Siddhartha Gautama was born with entitlement yet he wishes to do something
for himself which is to find the enlightenment that leads to liberty (nirvana). Interestingly, the
discovery of reality or set of beliefs from Buddha explained the reason of suffering and
extendedly the process of overcoming it. Buddha’s “four noble truths” approaches me in a way
that clarify the sense of actuality. The first one is called “dukkha”, narrating what is suffering. At
the end, I might have agreed about the fact that in general, “life is suffering”.
The endless desires can lead to blindly wanting what you do not have rather than
enjoying and being contented to what you already have. At one point, we must realize this and
accept it as it is. The overcoming of the realization is said to be “samaduya”. Next is called
“nirodha”, it is to stop the wanting, the thinking of having those that you do not attain right now.
In confidence and feeling of being secure about who you are today can accomplished the process
to the path of enlightenment. Last one “magga”, which in term is the eightfold path.
Eightfold path or the middle path is the way to righteousness. I could say that
categorizing this are easy. In the first part, right view and right thought will fall down the
category of wisdom. The “right view” or ”right perspective” can distinguish what is false and
delusion. By this, attaining the correct view helps you understand the relying meaning of reality.
In addition, right thought accumulated the correctness of situation. Allowing the deflection of
hatred, greed, and ignorance. Second, I labeled the right speech, right livelihood, and right action
as a “conduct”. It is to entail the wholesome words, manner, and behaviors that are in accordance
to “dharma” in which upholds positive order. Lastly, the “right effort”, “right mindfulness”, and
“right concentration” is put on the discipline. As the right effort concede, the diligence and
carefulness in doing action will prevent the unwanted consequences. It follows the path of
creation wherein the person put a lot of consideration (right mindfulness) to action. The
awareness of words, thought, body languages, and action is important to not give rise to
unwanted thinking. Right concentration entails the correct view you must focus on, where you
should put rightly your mind without distraction.
The “dharma” of Buddhism given me an opportunity to explain, absorbed, and overcome
the true meaning of reality that comes with suffering. As a part of us crave for something, we
might neglect the present and the enlightenment will not come forth into our knowing. Being
open about what is in front of you, with proper approach to the situation, we will all come to
enlightenment.
