As a pupil and student who has been studying under “the Enlightened One”, my hope for you is to see that although there is suffering in life, this pain and distress that has been part of your life can be recognized or changed, ended and by discovering the facts and knowledge, your life can be freed from ignorance, prejudice and skepticism. Through the discovery of my doctrine of the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path, suffering can be cured.
Since we have continued to explore the ways in which suffering can be ended and also understanding that suffering can take many forms such as sorrow, disappointment, frustration, discontent, disaffection, pessimism and an unfulfilled life; my goal is that you will take these lessons learned into your life and future to end your suffering. As we have studied, the most immediate cause of human suffering is ignorance and selfishness (Moore-Bruder, 2008).
As we have spoken regarding my views of suffering and the profound effect it has had on my life, my goal for you is to not have to experience such suffering. Through the experiences that I have shared about my lifetime, the challenge is for you to understand the best way of dealing with suffering (Moore-Bruder, 2008). Always remember my teachings of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path as you travel this world. It is through understanding these philosophies and viewpoints that you will achieve peace.
Let us begin by remembering what my Four Noble Truths are about and what my teachings later revolved around: “Life inevitably involves suffering and is imperfect and unsatisfactory; suffering originates in our desires; suffering will cease if all desires cease; and there is a way to realize this state, the Noble Eightfold Path” (Fisher, 2005, p. 135). This is the way to ...