Differences between Buddhist and Western Approach of Ones Problem Sources - Essay Example

Differences between Buddhist and western approach of one’s problem sources According to Dalai Lama, the modern western society approach has cultural conditioning, based on sciences. However, parameters and premises set by science limits one’s ability to deal with reality. For example, western approach assumes that all phenomenons have an explanation behind them. In cases where one encounters a phenomenon hard to explain, tension gets created which causes a feeling of agony. Western psychology over emphasises the role of unconsciousness when looking for the source of one’s problems. This is the assumption that everything can be accounted for. Buddhism is different from western approach ion that it believes that not all phenomenons can be accounted for. It accepts factors that western society comes up with although it adds some factors. It believes in imprints from past lives. According to Buddhism, the cause of one suffering or problem is ignorance. This approach assumes that pain and suffering can be avoided. This approach states that one inflicts more suffering by playing painful scenes in one’s mind. Happiness in relation to nature and nurture According to Dalai Lama, happiness is the ultimate goal of one’s life. He expounds that this goal is achievable and continues to explain that happiness is influenced by what one has, what happens to them. He states that the source of long-term ultimate happiness is from the mind. One should nurture their mind for happiness. He argues that the effective way of getting happiness is by nurturing the mind in ways of happiness (Lama & Cutler, 43). He adds that one should reclaim their innate happiness. This is achieved by assessing warm and compassion state of mind. He believes that the basic nature of a person is gentleness (Lama & Cutler, 52). Dalai Lama positive and negative desire and its relationship to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs Dalai Lama postulates that both positive and negative desires exist. In Mahayana Buddhist narrative, two aspirations are mentioned. These are desire to be fully enlightened and desire to be of advantage to other humans. These two aspirations are necessary to attain full enlightening. Desire also brings some negative things, but one has to be content to avoid negative desires. He suggests that one has to identify negative desires to cultivate positive desires. Maslow's hierarchy of needs comprises of four deficiencies of needs. The wants are arranged in sequence of priorities. Failure to meet these needs, one gets faced with anxiety and agony which bring about suffering. Maslow suggests that basic needs must be satisfied first in order to desire for secondary needs. This has a relation to Dalai Lama teachings on positive and negative desires. This is because, according to Dalai Lama one has to be content to avoid negative desire just like Maslow hierarchy of needs; one has to acquire basic needs first to desire secondary wants. Self created suffering Dalai Lama states that at times, one inflicts pain on one self. This suffering continues when one replays the painful scenes in the mind (Lama & Cutler, 150). Sometimes it may not be possible to avoid the situation that may cause suffering. However, one can modify the extent in which one suffers in the manner he or she responds to the situation (Lama & Cutler, 150-152). Dalai Lama regretted not being at his brother’s death. This shows the possibility of one facing life tragedy and how emotionally to respond. Dalai Lama suffered deep regrets but did not indulge in excess, self contempt or guilt. He accepted his limitations, therefore, modified the extent to which he suffered. According to Cutler, all things keep changing. Life is always a change and, therefore, refusing to accept this and resisting natural changes suffering will perpetuate. Analysing self image like how someone looked like before or what we did before but cannot be done as age adds is a clear indication that one will not grow to be happier (Lama & Cutler, 164-165). Dalai Lama gives another example with how romantic relationships keep changing. This is because romances go through stages naturally and will never be the same. Looking back to a never changing romance might cause suffering. For instance, when my loved one died, I did not over indulge in guilt although I felt regret. Value and benefits of compassion the ability to treat people with compassion is a vital component of developing stable and healthy relationship with them. This also contributes to ones happiness. According to Dalai Lama, compassion is a state of mind usually non harming, nonaggressive and non violent. This is a mental attitude appealing for others to be free from suffering. Respect to others and commitment are the bases (Lama & Cutler, 114). A relationship build on loving someone to get loved back is unstable. Partial relationship where a person perceives and identifies another as a friend, leads to a feeling of closeness and emotional attachment. When the friendship ends, emotional attachment also ends resulting to a feeling of hatred. All people have a desire to overcome suffering and be happy leading to a genuine compassion. A genuine compassion is developed when one views others as having the right to fulfil this desire. Compassion makes individuals more reliable regardless of hard economic times and failed fortunes. Compassion people have something to share with others despite hard moments in their life (Lama & Cutler, 121). Therefore, no one wants to suffer but always wish to be happy. Dalai Lama bases relationships on the human condition general aspects and not on people’s personalities. This is a new model of relationship where he puts it that every human being wish to live a happy life and escape suffering. This can be achieved if one develops compassion for human conditions. All relationships built on compassion and a desire that everyone is happy depend on unchanging human conditions aspects. Therefore, these relationships are more stable than those built on status, wealth, sex, common interest or romance. This will deepen ones connection to other humans. Dalai Lama was able to show compassion to all people whether friends or enemies. A personal example is a situation where I met a stranger and shown compassion without expecting anything in return. Training the mind to be happy Happiness is sought by learning. Knowledge shows us how negative behaviours and emotion harm the personality and society and how positive emotions are useful even to the entire world (Lama & Cutler, 38). Harbouring feeling of hatred and negative emotions towards others, they will appear to be hostile, therefore, more fear, inhibition and sense of insecurity get created (Lama & Cutler, 39-40). Dalai Lama categorizes emotions either positive or negative based on whether they lead to ultimate happiness. To achieve a genuine happiness, one must transform his or her outlook and ones way of thinking. Application of techniques and familiarizing with the practises is a road map of training your mind to be happy (Lama & Cutler, 41-42). We can change ourselves through training. We can replace negative conditions previously got with new, positive conditioning (Lama & Cutler, 43). For instance, in Dalai Lama, tragic news bring disturbance on his mind but disappears fast and also anger develops and dissipates quickly. Dalai Lama says that he achieved this by gradual practice and not an overnight happening. Academics add to a happy life. Changing ourselves through understanding and learning impacts on ones interaction with others and ones day to day living. The education is not only meant to make somebody brilliant but also assist in understanding the importance of engaging in wholesome actions and building discipline within the mind. Education helps to put into effects changes and develop a charitable heart. A personal example is when I experienced a situation that caused unhappiness due to my negative thought. I learnt that in a difficult situation, I should engage positive thoughts in order to be happy. Dealing with anger and hatred Dalai Lama says that sometimes, anger may provide power which can be used in a constructive manner. The energy is blind and; therefore, we are not sure if the energy will be destructive or constructive at the end. Dalai Lama argues that anger brings about hatred an ill-feeling, which are negative things in one’s life (Lama & Cutler, 249). Anger is overcome by cultivating tolerance and patient. One needs to raise enthusiasm when cultivating the antidotes of anger. Dalai Lama uses the phrase “Letting it out”, explaining that this is a strategy one can use when dealing with hatred and anger. When anger and hatred is not letting out, the emotions keep on increasing. Repeated anger and hatred results to growth of these emotions and not their reduction. Responding to situations with anger and hatred does not protect one from harm and injury since the damage is already done. This only aggravates ones suffering in the future. Being tolerance and patient when dealing with situations, one will experience temporal suffering and avoid long term consequences of hatred and anger. Patience or tolerances are elements of self restraint and discipline. However, when one is forced to practise tolerance due to helplessness, this is not genuine humility but meekness. Feeling of compassion can be used to counteract feeling of anger and hatred. Forgiveness, a product of tolerance and patience come naturally. For example, when one says words to hurt me, I do not retaliate by doing the same as this will cause long term hatred. Dealing with anxiety and self-esteem Dalai Lama argues that if a problem can be resolved, anxiety is unnecessary. One should focus on the solution rather than worry about it. Alternatively, if there is no solution or no possibility of resolving it, then there is no need to worry since one cannot do something about it. To reduce anxiety and fear, one has to have sincere motivation. This motivation is based on the desire to help, show kindness, respect and compassion. With this, one can do any work at any field and function effectively with minimal fear. Although by doing this, one may not achieve their set goals, they will feel happy for having made the effort. Bad motivation is when one expects to be praised after achieving a certain goal and failure to succeed leads to unhappiness (Lama & Cutler, 268-273). To achieve self esteem, one has to understand him or herself. Ego is concerned with fulfilment of self interests and desires without putting others in your consideration. A genuine self esteem has concern for other people and is driven by a desire to serve them. In order to serve others, one needs strong sense of self confidence. This self confidence brings about positive confidence (Lama & Cutler, 279. Honesty is an attribute that contributes to self esteem and reduce anxiety. For instance, an honest leader is self confident since he or she is not afraid of being exposed to people, therefore, lives with minimal anxiety. Basic spiritual values Dalai Lama argues that each one should embark on a spiritual path that is suited to one’s mental disposition, temperament, natural inclination, family, belief and cultural background pg.294. He suggests that one should meditate for at least 30 minutes each day. However, one should not confine spiritual practice understandings to physical activities such as chanting and praying. Spirituality is a mental attitude practice that can be conducted at any time. Spirituality is based on kindness, goodness, compassion and caring. This spiritual level is different from being a believer or a non believer. This applies to one’s everyday life in that when dealing with people, one need to express kindness, goodness, and compassion and care. Understanding spirituality contributes to a positive state of mind each day. This way, one gets happier, calmer and more peaceful. Every day one should practice spiritual values and discipline to have positive state of mind. I should meditate every 30 minutes each day and practice spirituality by showing kindness, goodness, compassion and caring. Philosophers concerned with humanity in a global society. Cornel Ronald West is an American philosopher, critic, author, civil rights activist, actor and a member of Democratic Socialists of America, born in 1953. He graduated from Harvard University in 1973. He is known for his insight in politics and morality, contribution and criticism to Civil rights movement. His work centres on class, gender and race in American Society. Peter Singer is a philosopher from Australia, born in 1946. Singer’s specialization; applied ethics and approach towards ethical issues from preference utilitarian and secular perspective. He is an author of Animal Liberation book. Judith Butler is post structuralist philosopher born in 1956. She has contributed immensely to the fields of queer theory, feminism, ethics and political philosophy. She has done several research works including modern philosophy, literacy theory, sexuality and feminists’ studies amongst others. Slavoj Zizek is a philosopher from Slovenia born in 1949. Slavoj is a cultural critic. He has conducted research based on traditions of marxism, Hegelianism and Lacanian psychoanalysis. He contributed to film theory, political theory and theoretical psychoanalysis. Kwame Appiah, born in 1954 is a Ghanaian American philosophy. He is also a novelist and cultural theorist. Appiah has an interest in philosophy of mind moral and political theory, and language and African intellectual history. Works cited Lama, Dalai and Cutler, Howard. The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living. Australia: Hachette Australia, 2009. Taylor, Astra. Examined Life: Excursions with Contemporary Thinkers. New York: The New Press, 2009. Read More