Week 9

Buddhism

According to Buddhism, the main source of our suffering is our preoccupation with our own desires. Suffering is said to be caused by selfish cravings and desires. The way to enlightenment, for Buddhism, therefore involves detaching from our narrow concern with ourselves, escaping the prison of our own desires and illusions.

Do you think it is possible to live according to this teaching in the contemporary United States? Is there a conflict between what Buddhism teaches, and how we are encouraged to think and act in our society? What are your thoughts on this?

I believe that Buddhism has a great point on this issue and people should listen up. Today’s society is too demanding and keeps telling us through ads, TV commercial, Shows to win money, competitions to earn a better job, that this is the way to go. It is pathetic for government, corporations, and rich folks to tap on the weakness, desires and cravings of poor people and take advantage of this, and somehow convinced us that having money and fortune is the best way to enjoy life. I strongly agree with Buddhism that our suffering is due to our selfishness, cravings and we must detach from it, but these marketing companies don’t help. United States has it completely wrong and we the people should pause and think for a moment and realize what’s happening here. Even during these economy troubles on this dumb country, we are continue to be told that were not doing enough, not educated, not successful , not skinny enough and so on and we believe everything and run to do something about it, like register in school, join the gym just to name a few. In my views Buddhism has a great solution, but quite hard to accomplish on this country for the reasons mention above. Go Buddhism!