Introduction
Buddhism should be viewed as one of human history’s oldest and most significant religious teachings. Its principles proclaim a unique path to freedom from pain, both physical and spiritual. To achieve this goal of becoming free, the Buddha proposed the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which serve as a practical guide to the path of liberation of the human mind. In this paper, it is essential to discuss the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path declared by the Buddha, along with their implications for grasping the ideal of liberation of the human mind.
The Four Noble Truths
The Four Noble Truths are usually viewed as the Buddha’s fundamental teachings. They acknowledge the existence of pain and significant suffering in everyone’s life. The first truth of suffering states that, unfortunately, life can present extreme pain, tension, anxiety, and suffering to individuals.
Thus, people can face and overcome various forms of suffering, such as illnesses, poverty, aging, and death. The Buddha asserted that all beings experience much suffering, and this part of life is inescapable (Vaughn 82). He also argued that people are inclined to seek pleasure and avoid pain, but this inevitably leads to more suffering, as no pleasure can be permanent.
The second truth declares the cause of suffering and states that this unfortunate state arises from individuals’ attachment to worldly entities and their nature. The Buddha argued that suffering usually arises from the desire and attachment to a variety of material things, the desire to be happy, and the desire to avoid suffering (Vaughn 83). He also claimed that illusion and ignorance play a critical role in suffering, as people usually refuse to see the true nature of things.
The third truth states that this process of attachment can be stopped, suffering can be ended, and people can be liberated from pain. The Buddha believed that if people removed the causes of suffering, they could achieve some liberation from it. To accomplish that, people must eliminate their inner desires and personal attachments and realize and focus on the true nature of things (Vaughn 82-83). Finally, the fourth truth is associated with the path to freedom from pain and suffering, which is called the Eightfold Path.
The Eightfold Path
Thus, the Eightfold Path offers some practical and voluntary steps that individuals must take to liberate their minds. This path includes the right livelihood, right relationship with others and action, right speech, right effort, right thoughts or mindfulness, right concentration, right thinking, and proper understanding. By applying the Eightfold Path, people can overcome their attachment to material objects and liberate the human mind.
This liberation from attachments leads to enlightenment, which allows individuals to see things as they are (Vaughn 83-84). This process will allow people to look at the world without common subjective preconceptions and superstitions. As a result, the enlightenment of the mind can help understand the world and human life with greater depth and forgiveness.
Conclusion
The Buddha advocated the Eightfold Path and the Four Noble Truths in his teachings to achieve the intended mental emancipation. It is said that the Eightfold Path holds the secret to achieving enlightenment and overcoming much suffering. Using the Eightfold Path, people can remove their attachment to material or physical objects, achieve spiritual freedom, and discover more depth and forgiveness in life.
Work Cited
Vaughn, Lewis. Philosophy Here and Now: Powerful Ideas in Everyday Life. 4th ed., Oxford University Press, 2021.