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Buddhism using Socratic Reasoning For my essay I have taken two different Buddhist notions: Karma and Nirvana. The proof of their difference lies in the fact that they belong to different, if not opposite, aspects in the philosophy of Buddhism. Karma is the notion that refers to the punishment for human actions, intentions or deeds and may occur in the short-term or long-term haul; whereas Nirvana is highly desired by buddhists, it is an award for pains-taking efforts, that can be described as an unalloyed bliss, a state of being pure and simple, fully passed away. In my essay using Socratic reasoning I will show how Karma is related to Nirvana in Buddhism. The supposition about possible relations between these two concepts is based on the statement in Buddhism that everything is interrelated and interdependent. Thus, such different notions as Karma and Nirvana should have something in common.
There are two possibilities: Karma and Nirvana are related or they are not related. If these two notions have something in common, and, as everything in Buddhism, they are interrelated and interdependent, Karma and Nirvana have a number of logical connections that tie them to each other. If Karma is not related to Nirvana, then they are not interdependent and interrelated. How can Karma depend on Nirvana? As, roughly speaking, Karma is a correlation between volitional acts and the consequences that follow them, then Karma punishes for bad deeds and rewards for good ones. As a result, the knowledge of Karma laws may stimulate an individual for only good and righteous acts.
And finally, such conduct may lead to attaining Nirvana. First, what is meant by Nirvana? In Buddhism the concept of Nirvana is realized as the tranquillity of the mind when the passions are brought under control and all attachment ceases." In other words, it is a certain state of human mind that results from ones abilities of getting rid of passions and attachment ceases. Then, how can people get such abilities? Buddhism suggests a way of life that implies good conduct that can be achieved by mind development and training. So, a person is trained and consequently he develops his mind and this results, among other things, in his abilities of getting rid of passions and attachment ceases.
Next, how can such abilities as noted above cause the state of Nirvana? Maybe, Nirvana can be attained through some other abilities? Nirvana is the goal of Buddhist way of life that lies in overcoming greed, ill-will and delusion. These evils, as Buddha thought, do not allow mankind to lift up to Nirvana. Greed, ill-will and delusion can be eliminated while going through Noble Eightfold Path. What is understood by Noble Eightfold Path?
The Noble Eightfold Path is the middle path and was discovered by Buddha himself. This path avoids the extreme paths offered by other religions. One of these paths teaches the indulgence in sensual pleasures while the other lies in self-mortification. The Middle Path suggested by Buddha rejects these ways mentioned and consists of the following eight factors: Right Understanding, Right Thoughts, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration. How can Noble Eightfold Path teach the abilities which allow the state of Nirvana?
Right Understanding implies the knowledge of Four Noble Truths. What are Four Noble Truths? There are the following: Noble Truth of Suffering, of Arising of Suffering, of Cessation of Suffering and finally - The Noble Truth of the Path Leading to the Cessation of Suffering. The first Noble Truth tells about the existence of the notion dukkha that conveys the idea of suffering, unhappiness, unpleasantness, imperfection that happen due to the unenlightened way of life. In short, an individual because of his ignorance gets disturbed and experiences suffering. According to Buddhism philosophy, the dukkha (suffering) arises because of craving.
This is told in the second Noble Truth. Can only craving be the cause of suffering? No, sometimes Buddhism mentions ignorance and the belief in a permanent self as the things which can cause suffering. So, it means that suffering caused by craving, ignorance or the belief in a permanent self is related to Nirvana? Yes, suffering and all the things that provoke it, are, so to say, the obstacles on the way to Nirvana.
Then, how can a person put an end to suffering? It is what is taught by the third Noble Truth. A person can recognize the cause of suffering and remove it. According to the philosophy of Buddhism, experience of people is the result of their sense perception. Naturally, all people like pleasure and dislike feeling of pain. With time, men begin to consider their feelings from the point of view of their likes and dislikes.
Consequently, a person gets attached to what he likes and rebound from everything he dislikes. Buddhism states that if people think in terms of pleasure, they start controlling the processes of their perception of the outer world. And then a person sees, feels or smells only what his likes or dislikes dictate him. In this way the person fails to see that the five aggregates that constitute his inner world are constantly changing and thinks that he has a permanent self. Buddhism is against such attachment because it weakens people who consequently get accustomed to the state of being happy and fail to realize that their happiness turn into unhappiness.
As a result, a person who faces the true nature of life for example, fame and ill fame, gain and loss, pain and pleasure, may completely lose his mental balance. Thus, the only way to avoid suffering is to correct ones perception and to replace ones ignorance with wisdom. Are the abilities of getting rid of passions and attachment ceases related to Right Understanding? Yes, Right Understanding helps to recognize danger in personal attachment to likes and dislikes and the influence of passion was mentioned in the negative meaning of losing mental balance. Why losing mental balance is considered to be bad in Buddhism?
The matter is that passion interferes with ones peaceful mind and tranquillity and the last is believed to be one of the characteristics of Nirvana. So, can Nirvana be reached through the Noble Eightfold Path? Yes, it is evident that the Noble Eightfold Path and the factors mentioned can enlighten a person and lead him to Nirvana. What features does an enlightened person acquire?
There are Six Perfections mentioned in the philosophy of Buddhism which can characterize a person who is enlightened. They are the following: Giving; a person denies his ego for the sake of others. Morality; it is shown through Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood and implies following Buddhism ethics. Forbearance; it opposes ones attachment. Steadfastness; it shows that the person is firm in his decision of achieving the highest goal of Buddhism. Meditation; Wisdom.
It is demonstrated through Right Understanding and Right Thoughts. Can these Six Perfections aiming at attaining Nirvana improve Karma of a person? Yes, they can. So, is Nirvana related to Karma in Buddhism? Yes, evidently, they are related. Thus, using the method of Socratic reasoning I have shown that Karma is related to Nirvana.
This was attained first, by defining the meanings of the notions and pointing out their characteristic features; and second, by showing logical connections between some of the features which belong to different objects. In this way, I have proved the interrelation between Karma and Nirvana by the following connection: the ways to better ones Karma may lead to Nirvana and vice versa.
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Research essay sample on Buddhism Using Socratic Reasoning
