WHAT IS THE EXISTENCE OF TRUTH? and
WHAT IS THE TRUTH OF EXISTENCE? are two different questions.
Most people stay with the first question and never look to the second. But this is misdirected because it is outward looking. You are the embodiment of the truth of existence. But you cannot recognize this because you are encumbered by your attachment to empirical things. These empirical things block your view of the truth of existence. You need to address the second question first. This is an inward looking process. It is only after you detach yourself from the things that are warping your perspective that you can recognize that the truth of existence is found within yourself.
Impermanence is the cardinal principle of Buddhism. You are like a river. When you try to hold on to empirical things you stop the flow. You lose perspective. You cannot recognize the river as a river. This causes you to die metaphysically. You have in effect lost your way. The metaphysical foundation for your existence is still there. But, you cannot see it. So you suffer because you hold onto things expecting them to be permanent, not realizing that impermanence is the ways of things.
Impermanence is truth. Control and manipulation are attempts at achieving something permanent. Therefore, control and manipulation of things are misdirected goals. Real truth cannot be manipulated or controlled. The most important thing is self-mastery, to recognize the truth in oneself. Without this you cannot know anything else.
Compassion and knowledge are the two pillars of Buddhism. When Siddartha attained enlightenment he had a serene and pure look on his face. His friends asked him what happened to him.. He answered, “Don’t call me Siddartha (friend) anymore. My name is now Buddha (left the empirical realm).” He now saw things under the aegis of eternity. His compassion was no longer restricted to personal acquaintances. He now loved everyone since they all represented nature in its totality. So, it is not true that Buddha stopped loving his wife and child. Rather, his love for them was transformed from a mere attachment to their empirical forms into a higher form of love which saw them as representing all of humanity and nature. So, instead of loving only a few selfish attachments, one who achieves enlightenment loves everything since everything represents existence. This is why Buddhists try to relieve the suffering of everyone without consideration of class, creed, nationality, etc.
Source:
Kenneth Inada, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Department of Philosophy
University of Buffalo
BUDDHISM - FURTHER CLARIFICATIONS
Self mastery is of primary importance because without that you cannot master or know anything else.
Four Noble Truths:
1. Life is permeated by suffering or dissatisfaction. (dukkha)
2. The origin of suffering lies in craving or grasping. (tanha)
3. Cessation of suffering is possible through the cessation of craving.
4. The way to (# 3) is the Noble Eightfold Path.
Noble Eightfold Path:
1. Right Views
2. Right Aspiration
3. Right Speech
4. Right Conduct
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Contemplation
1 & 2 are the characteristics required in the preliminary frame of mind of the aspirant.
3, 4, & 5 are the ethical requirements.
6, 7, & 8 represent the meditative training needed for contemplative or mystical knowledge of the ultimate truth and for the serenity that goes with it.
Three Characteristics of Individuals:
1. Suffering (dukkha)
2. Absence of eternal self (anatta)
3. Impermanence (anicca)
Humans are composites of the five skandas, body, sense, ideas, feelings, and consciousness.
Persons are a series of mental and physical states. The world is always changing.
The goal is release from the changing world.
The existence of evil and suffering proves the non-existence of God.
Nirvana is the cessation of suffering.