Does Existentialism Agree With Buddhism?

By: Pete Somkul and Buen Nakajud

What is….

What is……

• Existentialism???“A philosophical approach to understanding human existence and experiences. It is based on the assumption that individuals are free and responsible for their own choices and actions.”- www.about.com

• Buddhism???“A path of practice and spiritual development leading to insight into the true nature of life.”- www.fwbo.org

WHAT ABOUT AGREE???- To have the same opinion about something.

- To express willingness to comply with.

- To be consistent with.

www.askoxford.com

Existentialism Components VS

Buddhism Teachings

Components of Existentialism

• Human nature is chosen through life choices.

• One is best when struggling against individual nature,

fighting for life.

• Decisions are not without stress and consequences.

• There are things that are not balanced

• Personal responsibility and discipline is vital.

• Society is unnatural and its traditional religious and

secular rules are illogical.

• Worldly desire is pointless.

Buddhism’s Noble Eightfold Path

1. Right View – we should see the world with wisdom.

2. Right Thought – we are what we think.

3. Right Speech – we can earn others’ respect by verbal.

4. Right Conduct – we should first see what we do before criticize others.

5. Right Livelihood – we should live by not harming others.

6. Right Effort – we should do best at all times, having good will toward others.

7. Right Mindfulness – we should be aware of thoughts, words, and deeds.

8. Right Concentration – we should focus on one thought or object at a time.

Buddhist’s Three Universal Truths

1. Nothing is lost in the universe: We are the same as everything. If we destroy something around us, we destroy ourselves. If we cheat another, we cheat ourselves.

2. Everything changes:Everything continuously changing. People once believed that the world was flat, but now we know that it is round.

3. Law of cause and effect:

We are the way we are now due to the things we have done in the past. Our thoughts and actions determine the kind of life we can have.

Questions

1. Can Meursalt be referred as an Existentialist from his thoughts and actions?

2. Does Buddhist’s Law of cause and effect have any influence on Meursalt’s life?

3. “Everything changes”, can this be use with Meursalt?

PRO

Existentialism Agrees With Buddhism

• Both of them create values in life.

• They stated that we are completely responsible for our actions

and our own lives.

• Sufferings is inevitable for everyone in the world from ways of

perceiving the world.

• There is no permanent self to be found within the body-mind

continuum.

• They believed in the human condition of “nothingness”.

CONS

Existentialism Does Not Agree With Buddhism

• Existentialist stated that there is no better world, but the Buddhist believed

in Good or Evil.

• Buddhist believed there are absolute meanings in life, while Existentialist

define own meanings.

• Buddhist noted there is reincarnation and eternal changing essence, while

Existentialist believed in one life with permanent essence created at the

moment of death.

• Buddhist believed in the state of no-essence called “Nirvana”, while

Existentialist believed that we can not escape from acquiring essence.

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