Buddhist Approach to the Meaning of Life -- According to the Saṃyuktāgama-Sūtra and Mahā-ratna-kūṭa-Sūtra
Date Issued
2014
Date
2014
Author(s)
WANG, MEI-YAO
Abstract
Since the ancient times, the meaning of life is an important topic which has been continuously discussed. Its importance comes from the inquiry into why sentient beings should live, which is a core question of life. As long as there is life, this question will not go away.
Concerning about the meaning of life, quite a lot of articles lack strict examination of the concept of “meaning” and what the concept of “meaning” really asks. As a consequence, many discussions mix up the concept of meaning with other concepts such as “value” or “achievement.”
In this thesis, through reflecting on the purpose of this very question, we can ascertain what meaning is asking. In order to understand our life and want to know how to guide our future life, the issue of the meaning of life is raised. So the concept of “meaning” is defined as follows: deconstructing things and abstracting the factors, making these factors connected with the world, and consciously adding the elements into future. That is to say, by this cognitive process, meaning shows forth. Through reflecting on the deeds we did and encountering our life in this way, we can understand the present life and also know how to lead our future life.
However, the living world has operating mechanisms, so people cannot think just by their imagination. Therefore, what is the meaning of life will not become some sort of relativism. Buddhism has a complete worldview through the subtle observations indicating that everything emerges in the world is in the process of impermanence and is driven by causes and conditions. If ordinary people do not reflect on life this way, they may mislead their life goal and use the wrong method to achieve their goal. So the efforts will be washed away by the impermanent flow and continuous reincarnation. In this vein, the meaning of life only remains suffering.
As distinct from ordinary meaning of life, Buddhism provides two other life paths. The first one is the path to liberation, which understands the reality of living world as empty of its own being. Through meditation and practices, a practitioner of the path to liberation may transform life into peace and quietude, and the meaning of life becomes peace and quietude. The other one is the path to Supreme Enlightenment, along which practicers penetrate the world through observing related causes and conditions. They transform endless lifetime into endless practices, and achieve perfection. Through this way of spiritual cultivation, the meaning of life consists in practices and liberating sentient beings.
Subjects
生命
意義
佛教
解脫道
菩提道
Type
thesis
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