Alex Coleman

World Religions
Dr Kisner
4/7/15
Buddhist Worldview
What is ultimate reality?
Everything is temporary. Not even the gods are eternal. The dharma body and the path
of buddha (leading to nirvana, liberation from samsara) are the only things that really matter.
Humans are stuck in samsara, the rebirth cycle, but do not have an atman (like Hinduism).
There are separate realms for rebirth, 6 of them, but the human realm is the only one where
enlightenment can be pursued. Emptiness, dharma and nirvana make up Buddhahood, which
is the ultimate goal; the path towards which is our reality.
What is the nature of external reality, that is, the world around us?
The world around us is nothing; it is an illusion, a mere setting for our story. It is all
temporary. It takes the back seat in a Buddhists life, as they are to pursue the ultimate goal.
There are 6 realms that we can be rebirthed into: Hell is the lowest, followed by the realm of
hungry ghosts. Then there are the realms of animals, humans and demigods. There is a godly
realm above all else, but even admittance into this realm is temporary. The worlds origin is not
important, it is its nature that matters.
What is a human being?
As a human, we are in a constant changing process. For example: an old man is not the
same as a child, however there are certain things that stay the same. There are 5
characteristics that make up humanity: physical matter, sensation, perception,
(re)action/impulse to act, and consciousness, all of which disappear post-mortem. Humans do
not exist outside of these five things. Without any one of them, humanity would not exist. They
represent the entirety of humanity. There is no atman, and therefore nothing that is carried over
to the next rebirth of samsara. It is like a queue line: When someone dies, it frees up space
for another being. Also, humans do not have souls. We are conscious of everything that we
are, and we are temporary.
What is the human predicament?
Dukkha, which is suffering, is merely clinging onto that which is not to be. For example:
We suffer from the loss of a loved one because they are no longer with us; we want them to still
be with us, but it is not to be. The same could be said about dieting (missing real food) and
every other circumstance that is placed under suffering. We are trapped in our suffering by
ignorance, and are forced to go through the 12 spokes on the wheel of life. Since there is no

beginning or end, we are at the mercy of the driving forces (hatred, delusion, greed). Through
each revolution, we are put through the cycle of samsara. The level of karma dictates the level
in which you are reborn, and for how long you live. When your karma from the past life runs
out, you are pushed through the cycle once again. The four noble truths outline how suffering
works into humanity.
What is the solution to the human problem?
The solution to the human predicament is nirvana, which is liberation/relief from
suffering. This is achieved by the path of dharma. Emptiness (shunyata), a sliver of this, is
viewed as a fundamental part of humanity and, therefore, is emphasized and viewed as a
positive trait. We, as individuals, are equipped to achieve nirvana by ourselves; no external
powers are necessary (Buddha was human and achieved/chose it on his own). That is not to
say that the Buddhas are not trying to help along the way, though (samobhoa-kaya).
What happens after death?
Samsara is the continuous cycle of life and death. As stated before, the amount of
karma accumulated throughout a lifetime determines which realm the next life starts in, as well
as its length. When karma runs out, the next life is demoted in realm and the cycle starts over
again. A Buddhist would believe bad karma from the past life causes people to die young.
When re-entering the first step of samsara (rebirth), nothing physical is carried over into the new
life. With no concept of soul, like we have in the West, it is more like the passing of a torch.
This new being is picking up where the other left off.
How is it possible to know anything at all?
In a way, it is not possible to know anything. The book stated that the highest truth to be
realised is I am no real self, which I understand to mean nothing is really real. Everything,
including knowledge, is simply an illusion. Much like how you are now reading words on your
computer: The words appear to be on the screen, but they are only light (an illusion, not
physically there). This is knowledge from a Buddhist perspective.
If it is actually possible to know anything, then it would be obtained from following the 8
fold path (and the additional help from the samobhoa-kaya).
How do we know what is right and wrong, and what is moral?
There are 10 moral precepts given by the book. The first five are for laymen/women: Do
not kill, take what is not given (stealing?), misconduct oneself sexually, lie or use addictive
substances. Monks and nuns have five additional rules to follow: Do not eat after noon, attend
forms of entertainment (singing, dancing, shows), use perfumes or scented ointments, sleep in
a bed that stands off of the floor or handle silver/gold (riches). Outside of these role-based

laws, one wants to do things that will accumulate (good) karma. The right, or moral thing to do
would award the individual with good karma, while the opposite would not.
What is the ultimate human destiny?
The ultimate human destiny is to achieve the goal of nirvana and breach the cycle of
samsara, leaving it behind; no longer being bound for it. This would be the onset of full-fledged
Buddhahood. Then, as part of the samobhoa-kaya, the goal is to lead others towards
Buddhahood.