Siddhartha Gautama Research Paper

Siddhartha Gautama (Gautama Buddha, Buddha, meaning "Awakened One," or "Enlightened One," is a title, not a proper name) lived 2500 years ago, he was son of a king and lived a luxurious and pampered life. He married at the age of 16. The turning point in his life came when he was 29, when he realized the inevitability of old age, sickness, and death. He became aware of the suffering incurred by people, he abandoned everything, departed leaving his wife and infant child behind to look for answers, to look for enlightenment. He believed that in order to gain anything, one must lose everything. Gautama realized that life was full of pain and sorrow once he stepped out of his bubble (the castle) and gave up all his advantages as a prince to search
for a solution for pain and sorrow.

Initially, Gautama became a beggar, slept on the floor and on nails occasionally, ate 1 grain of rice daily, etc. in other words he embraces poverty and celibacy in its totality. Initially, according to his search, suffering is endless and the only way out was to become enlightened. Buddha believed to have lived many lives (animal/human) but as you reincarnate you become wiser but he did not want to live more lives therefore he then thought that if he punished his body enough he could escape anger, desire and greed. Buddha sat under a tree and said "I'm going to sit here until I find the answer" after faces all the demons and all his previous self he got the peace he was searching for and remembered a childhood memory that provided him with absolute bliss. Buddha dedicated the rest of his to sharing his beliefs and teachings, walking a normal human life. Buddha's answer in reference to suffering is "Be free of suffering by understanding it." Buddhism is a religion, a philosophy or a way of life.

On the other hand, Buddhist metaphysics consist of the Buddha's main concern which as mentioned before was to erase pain and suffering from human’s existence. The Four Noble Truths was one of his initial teachings. The first noble truth has to do with the term, "Life is dukkha" dukkha is translated to suffering, pain. “Life consists of suffering and pain” is basically what can be deducted from the phrase. As humans, we desire to happy all the time during our life but the ambition of wanting more is a problem. The second noble truth instructs that the pain of life is caused by “tanha” our cravings, our attachments, our selfishness and the avoiding pain. In order to diminish selfish craving, it is necessary to cultivate the heart through compassion, also to eliminate ignorance one cultivate the mind through wisdom. Compassion and wisdom are two very important virtues in Buddhism, and are cultured by ethical behavior and meditation. The third noble truth teaches how it is possible to be free from suffering and pain in order to rebirth, be liberated.

Another one of Buddha’s lessons, Three Marks of Existence.
The first consists of the Anicca, impermanence: situations or problems transition, nothing lasts forever, everything shall pass. The second is Anatta, No-Self or No-Soul which means human beings and all of existence, is without a soul or self. The third mark of existence is of Dukkha or suffering, all of existence, not just human existence but even in states of meditation, is a form of meditation. Three Marks of Existence are based of the Four Noble Truths, which also based of Buddhist essential theories for example, that of Pratityasamutpada: Dependent Origination, or Interdependent Co-arising. All things are caused by other thing (the domino effect would be example for better understanding) according to this theory there was no commencement to the chain of unexpected situations. However, it can be ended (that is the ultimate goal of Buddhism), and the ultimate liberation of all creatures from the pain of
existence.

For instance, The Buddha’s overall philosophy was practical, primarily it aimed towards obtaining absolute and pure happiness.
According to my understanding, the Buddha did not expect others to approve of his belief instead he would rather prove himself and have others verify on their own, however he emphasized on perceiving and understanding clearly. In other to see and understand clearly, one must live a disciplined life. The Noble Eightfold Path is a plan which consists of observations on how to live life wisely and a path towards a specific goal. Three essential areas which this buddhist practice is composed of mental obedience (meditation), ethical conduct and the virtue of wisdom, the goal is become compassionate and wise, an enlightened
one.

In addition. The Buddhist path as a philosophy, when considering its epistemology,

certain claims of knowledge have been made, but how can they be known to be true? As stated above, the Buddha himself never asked anyone to accept unproven claims on faith, and in fact discouraged them from doing so. He maintained that his teachings could be verified by direct insight and reasoning, by anyone willing to consider them and to follow the necessary path of self-discipline. Starting from a few basic assumptions, such as impermanence and dependent origination, he derived a complex and consistent system of philosophy which has stood for centuries. Later teachers have validated his claim that others could reach the same insights, and they have expanded upon his basic teachings with impressive intuitive depth and intellectual rigor.

In this way the Buddhist teaching has itself become a kind of interactive and self-evolving process, much like its idea of pratityasamutpada. However, the end goal is still Nirvana, which is an experience ultimately beyond all concepts and language, even beyond the Buddhist teachings. In the end even the attachment to the Dharma, the Buddhist teaching, must be dropped like all other attachments. The tradition compares the teaching to a raft upon which one crosses a swift river to get to the other side; once one is on the far shore, there is no longer any need to carry the raft. The far shore is Nirvana, and it is also said that when one arrives, one can see quite clearly that there was never any river at all.

During Buddha’s life many metaphysical and epistemology questions were never answered, such as “What Nirvana really was? Exactly.” So what happens when an enlightened one dies? Buddha was said to have replied: "What happens to the footprints of the birds in the air." In other word “Nirvana” means extinction, extinction of a flame when the fuel (karma) runs out.