I found this chapter to be very humbling I guess is how I would put it. The part that has really stuck out in my mind is about death and how it is unavoidable to anyone and that it does not just effect one person. Even though this is true we humans are always trying to find ways to keep ourselves alive as long as we possibly can to delay the inevitable. When I was younger I used to fear death and it scared me to think that I could die at anytime and wondered if anyone would have cared. I soon realized that death was nothing to fear and that it was just a natural part of life and people do mourn death, and I guess it took longer for me to come to an actually understanding of death was not until the end of my senior year of high school when a friend of mine died in a car accident that I truly saw that death is not just an end but a beginning as well. And that suffering is a part of healing and to truly accept the passing of someone you must mourn them in your own way and go through the suffering for that is what makes you stronger.
I also like how this chapter talks about having to give up our worldly possessions and that its not what we own that makes us great it's what inside that really counts. In today's world you see so many people that just want want want and are never happy with what they have and are never content. And then there are the people who have nothing and want nothing and are the most content and sincere people on the planet. I think it just goes to show that in our society most people view your worth by the things you own and not what is in your heart and to me that is what is most important.
I think that maybe if more people could read the four noble truths and actually take what it says to heart that they would be more understanding of their fellow man and that the world might be a more pleasant place and we all might get along better and love one another and be a better nation for it.
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I agree with your first paragraph. Death is part of life...literally. You can only understand it, and only then can you accept it. Life is filled with sorrow, grieving and suffering, but like death it is a part of life and if we can accept that then we can truly live our lives.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement on how death is inevitable but I think the four noble truths is trying to say it is inevitble if you truly accept it. Because if you do not accept death then you have things/stories like life after death reincarnation etc that indicates that its just your body that dies not your essence or spirit. In addition the passage goes on to say "the Peaceful One, freed from rage, from sorrow, and from longing, has passed beyond birth and decay. This I call neither arising, nor passing away, neither standing still, nor being born, nor dying. There is neither foothold, nor developement, nor any basis. This is suffering."(pg41) So if you truly give up your longing then you will end suffering and since you do not dwell on death for you must experince it in the now and you do don't long for life then you will have found away to avoid death.
ReplyDeleteSorry the qoute should read
ReplyDelete"the Peaceful One, freed from rage, from sorrow, and from longing, has passed beyond birth and decay. This I call neither arising, nor passing away, neither standing still, nor being born, nor dying. There is neither foothold, nor developement, nor any basis. This is end of suffering."(pg41)
Now my comment might make a little more since.
I enjoyed what you said about giving up our worldy posessions. I think your right we do live in a world that people want want want, and hardly give. Its asham and I can't help but relate it to the status of our environment.
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