DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - The Success of Buddhism in the Western World

**Mehntswx** · 08-16-2012, 02:12 PM

I think the ajhan has a point. I agree that for a person who doesn't realize he is suffering, Buddhism doesn't have much to offer.

But, the term dukkha is greatly misunderstood by most. Generally speaking, people think the Buddha taught suffering as an inherent qualiy of life and nibbana as a way to escape these cyclic rounds of life (death and rebirth).

Incidentially, it is also believed that the happiness you experience with your spouse, kids, career success or wealth is refused by the Buddha as causes of dukkha. Therefore, mundane happiness should also be avoided.

In short, general misunderstanding is that a person's very existance is dukkha. Naturally, most people are not interetsd in this kind of dhamma.

Therefore, it makes sense to clear some of these misconceptions and present Buddhism as a positive, lively, practical religion, applicable in this very life for mental peace and happiness, whether one wants to spend a successful lay life with spouses and kids, or whether one wants to go forth for a greater kind of happiness.

Hi Deshy,

I agree with your idea that there is a great deal of misunderstanding about Buddhist teachings.

I think part of the misconception about causes of happiness is that many societies have traditionally promoted the idea of spouses and kids as being the ultimately way to ensure a happy life for the majority as this ensures the continuation of said society in the same structure. Buddhism explains that there is no simple happy recipe based on our following prescribed actions.

08-16-2012, 02:12 PM	#6
Mehntswx Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 425 Senior Member	I think the ajhan has a point. I agree that for a person who doesn't realize he is suffering, Buddhism doesn't have much to offer. But, the term dukkha is greatly misunderstood by most. Generally speaking, people think the Buddha taught suffering as an inherent qualiy of life and nibbana as a way to escape these cyclic rounds of life (death and rebirth). Incidentially, it is also believed that the happiness you experience with your spouse, kids, career success or wealth is refused by the Buddha as causes of dukkha. Therefore, mundane happiness should also be avoided. In short, general misunderstanding is that a person's very existance is dukkha. Naturally, most people are not interetsd in this kind of dhamma. Therefore, it makes sense to clear some of these misconceptions and present Buddhism as a positive, lively, practical religion, applicable in this very life for mental peace and happiness, whether one wants to spend a successful lay life with spouses and kids, or whether one wants to go forth for a greater kind of happiness. Hi Deshy, I agree with your idea that there is a great deal of misunderstanding about Buddhist teachings. I think part of the misconception about causes of happiness is that many societies have traditionally promoted the idea of spouses and kids as being the ultimately way to ensure a happy life for the majority as this ensures the continuation of said society in the same structure. Buddhism explains that there is no simple happy recipe based on our following prescribed actions.
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