TEACHINGS OF BUDDHA

Buddhism is a religion to about 500 million people around the world. The word comes from 'budhi', 'to awaken'. It has its origins about 2,500 years ago. Founder of the Buddhism was Gautama Buddha. The religion Buddhism is based on Gauthama Buddha’s teachings.

A. Noble Truths

The principal teachings of Gautama Buddha can be summarised in what the Buddhists call the 'Four Noble Truths'.

First - There is suffering and misery in life .

Second - The cause of this suffering and misery is desire.

Third - Suffering and misery can be removed by removing desire.

Fourth - Desire can be removed by following the Eight Fold Path.

B. The Noble Eight Fold Path

(i) Right Views

(ii) Right Thoughts

(iii) Right Speech

(iv) Right Actions

(v) Right Livelihood

(vi) Right Efforts

(vii) Right Mindfulness

(viii) Right Meditation

C. Nirvana

Nirvana' literally means "blowing out" or "extinction". According to Buddhism, this is the ultimate goal of life and can be described in various words. It is a cessation of all sorrows, which can be achieved by removing desire by following the Eight Fold Path.

Philosophy of Buddhism is Self - Contradictory

As mentioned above, the main teachings of Buddhism are summarized in the Four Noble Truths:

(i) There is suffering and misery in life.

(ii) The cause of suffering and misery is desire.

(iii) Suffering and misery can be removed by removing desire.

(iv) Desire can be removed by following the Eight Fold Path.

This Philosophy of Buddhism is self-contradictory or self-defeating because the third truth says 'suffering and misery can be removed by removing desire' and the fourth truth says that 'desire can be removed by following the Eight Fold Path'.

Now, for any person to follow Buddhism he should first have the desire to follow the Four Noble Truths and the Eight Fold Path. The Third great Noble Truth says that desire should be removed. Once you remove desire, how can we follow the Fourth Noble truth i.e. follow the Eight Fold Path unless we have a desire to follow the Eight Fold Path. In short desire can only be removed by having a desire to follow the Eight Fold Path. If you do not follow the Eight Fold Path, desire cannot be removed. It is self contradicting as well as self-defeating to say that desire will only be removed by continuously having a desire.

See also

BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES; CONCEPT OF GOD in Buddhism; Prophet MUHAMMAD IN BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES; Introduction on Buddhism;

References

http://irf.net/Buddhism.html

http://www.islamawareness.net/Buddhism/gautam.html