Belief Systems and Ideologies

Question 1

What are the four types of suffering?

Answer 1

1. Physical suffering
2. Material suffering
3. Social Suffering
4. Mental suffering

Question 2

What are the four noble truths?

Answer 2

1. life is dukka - life is full of pain, and therefore suffering
2. life is tanha - life is full of seeking for plasure, and this cases the suffering, as we are seeking more than life can offer
3. to overcome dukka, one must overcome tanha - to avoid the suffering, you must accept the reality of life and its bounderies
4. one will overcome tanha by following the Eightfold Path

Question 3

What are the ‘steps’ of the Eightfold Path?

Answer 3

1. Right View: thinking good and positive things about the world, especially regarding the Four Noble Truths.
2. Right Resolve: intending only what is good and positive, and resolving to strive toward enlightenment.
3. Right Speech: speaking of the good and positive, avoiding falsity and obscene language.
4. Right Conduct: no killing or injuring, no taking what is not given, no sexual misconduct, no material desires.
5. Right Livelihood: no trading in weapons, living beings, meat, liquor, or poisons.
6. Right Effort: putting your efforts towards only what is good and positive, preventing the arising of unwholesome states, and generating wholesome states
7. Right Mindfulness: setting your mind towards the good and positive, and being mindful of what it takes to be virtuous.
8. Right Concentration: contemplating only the good and positive, and in particular meditating the way the Buddha recommended.