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Buddhism and Other Responses

to Suffering

A presentation by

Jeffrey L. Richey, Ph.D. to the

Buddhist Student Association

Berea College

March 17, 2003

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SUFFERING: THE BEGINNING AND END OF BUDDHISM

When asked what he taught, the Buddha said: “I teach suffering and the end of suffering.”

When asked if he was divine or human, the Buddha said: “I am awake.”

When asked to summarize his teaching, the Buddha said: “To avoid evil; to do good; to cleanse one’s mind.”

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SHAKYAMUNI GAUTAMA SIDDARTHA (c. 550-450 BCE?)

Shakyamuni (Buddha: “awakened one”) inherited an ancient Indian worldview:

1. Cyclical existence of endless rebirth (samsara)

2. Conditioning of rebirth by moral results of one’s actions (karma)

3. Presumption of eternal self (atman) underlying transitory physical form

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SUFFERING AND SELFHOOD

The Buddha taught that:1. Although samsara can be

pleasant and karma profitable, ultimately there is no satisfaction in either

2. Samsara and karma ultimately are illusions produced by attachment to false views of self (atman)

3. The self is impermanent (anatman, “no-self”)

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UNDERSTANDING ANATMAN

The self is not a holistic, permanent entity Instead, it is a composite entity, composed of five skandhas

(“clusters”) or elements:1. Physical body (outward, sensory form of self)2. Emotions (raw responses to sensory data)3. Ideas (processed responses to sensory data)4. Biases (orientations produced by sensory data)5. Consciousness (awareness of self and senses)

The self is interdependent & impermanent; no basis for ego Realizing anatman =

1. Awakening to suffering 2. Compassion in suffering3. Liberation from suffering

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BUDDHISM AS A RESPONSE TO SUFFERING

Buddhists express their central insights into reality as the “Four Noble Truths”:

Life is suffering Self-centered attachment

is the root of suffering Suffering can be ended There is a path by which

to end suffering

Each “Noble Truth” represents an imperative to respond to reality as it truly is:

Understand suffering Let go of its origins Realize its cessation

(nirvana – “blowing out”) Cultivate the path toward

its cessation

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WHAT ABOUT HINDUISM?

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HINDUISM AS A RESPONSE TO SUFFERING

Hindus accept the worldview of samsara (cycle of birth and death), karma (ethical conditioning of rebirth), and atman (permanent essence or self) critiqued by Buddhists

For Hindus, there are many deities (polytheism), but ultimately only one absolute deity (monism) – Brahman, of which atman (and all) is a part

A Hindu thus must: Understand that one is part

of an eternal whole, life after life

Let go of alienating selfishness that causes suffering and rebirth

Realize one’s liberation from rebirth (moksha)

Cultivate the path toward moksha through study (jñana), devotion (bhakti), and/or action (karma)

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WHAT ABOUT CHRISTIANITY?

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CHRISTIANITY AS A RESPONSE TO SUFFERING

Christians affirm a very different worldview:

Life is linear and finite One omnipotent and loving

God created all life, giving humans free will

Human choices that prioritize self over God (sin) lead to alienation and suffering

God’s selflessness (in Jesus) overcomes human selfishness (in sin)

A Christian thus must: Understand that one is made

by God to know and enjoy God forever

Let go of selfishness that causes suffering & eternal separation from God

Realize one’s salvation by God’s love in Jesus

Cultivate the path to salvation by prayer, selfless love (agape), and thanksgiving

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WHAT ABOUT ISLAM?

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ISLAM AS A RESPONSE TO SUFFERING

Muslims assert that: Life is linear and finite One omnipotent and loving

God (Allah) created all life, gave humans free will and revealed himself in Qur’an

Human refusal to submit to Allah leads to lawlessness and suffering

Submission (Islam) is the proper response to Allah and offers redemption

A Muslim thus must: Understand that one is

powerless before Allah Let go of proud resistance to

Allah by submitting Realize one’s dependence on

Allah’s mercy & power Cultivate the path to

submission through faith (shahada), prayer (shalat), charity (zakat), fasting (Ramadan), and pilgrimage (Hajj)

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TYPES OF RESPONSES TO SUFFERING

Some responses are theistic (Christianity), while others are nontheistic (Buddhism)

Some responses are dualistic (humanity/God, self/other), while others are nondualistic (atman/Brahman, interdependence of self/other)

All responses profiled here call upon us to:

Understand suffering Let go of its origins Realize its cessation Cultivate the path

toward its cessation And all identify:1. A common curse (suffering)2. A common cause (selfishness)3. A common cure (selflessness)

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