What is the purpose of life in Buddhism? To what end do we practice mindfulness?

[atanu]

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This is one aspect of Buddhism that I've always been confused about. What is the purpose of life to a Buddhist? I know a Buddhist practices mindfulness to help eliminate suffering, but to what end do we practice mindfulness? There will always be suffering... Perhaps we will be able to attain a level of peace, acceptance, and oneness with things... but now what? Sure, maybe I don't really suffer anymore.. but to what do I live for? What is the real point to all of the breathing exercises, meditation, and other practices?

Let me phrase this question another way: most theists try to do everything for God - this is their purpose.. I guess I don't understand a Buddhist's purpose as much, or to what end they practice mindfulness.

I understand that mindfulness helps one to touch one's unborn nature of Nirvana and then helps one to let go of all concepts.

Some may enjoy the following:

Art of suffering - YouTube

 

[dyanaprajna2011]

To get back to the natural state, before conceptual thought.

 

[zenzero]

Friend punkdbass,

This is one aspect of Buddhism that I've always been confused about. What is the purpose of life to a Buddhist? I know a Buddhist practices mindfulness to help eliminate suffering, but to what end do we practice mindfulness? There will always be suffering... Perhaps we will be able to attain a level of peace, acceptance, and oneness with things... but now what? Sure, maybe I don't really suffer anymore.. but to what do I live for? What is the real point to all of the breathing exercises, meditation, and other practices?

Taking the first sentence:

I've always been confused about.

Who is this 'I'? that is confused. where does 'confusion' take birth?
These are the basic questions which needs to be understood to understand the rest. The problem is that since thousands of years since first humans evolved this questions were there, evolution took forth few humans to its next stage where they crossed the threshold of human existence and since we are not in that realm we are not qualified to understand it but what they left behind are their understanding and realisations following which they reached that state and these are all our scriptures like the vedas, bible, quran etc.
In spite most humans are still groping to understand and realise it all.

The matter of fact is that we do not realise that we are in everyday life using our minds to understand / experience and this MIND itself is the barrier/root of all that friend punkdbass is asking.
Now the Mind lies within ourselves and not with out and so to understand the MIND, mindfullness / consciousness /alertness / watchfullness is required.
This is not a security job to keep an eye on material things where the eyes are useful but it is a espionage job of another kind where one travels inwards to watch his own mind for which he has to use that very mind which is being mindfull.

There will always be suffering...

Yes, mountains are mountains they are always there but what is the difference between humans who have transcended or evolved to higher states and humans? That is realisation. Once realised mountains and no more mountains they are very temporary particles of energy which are parts of that universal energy which even this human body is; a temporary form. Then that 'I' is no more a 'I' but becomes part of that universal 'I". This 'I' or the individual energy/consciousness is only a tiny part of that universal energy/consciousness.

So to start with that MINDFULLNESS is required to transcend that mind and end all sufferings.

Love & rgds

 

[Darkstorn]

Yes, mountains are mountains they are always there but what is the difference between humans who have transcended or evolved to higher states and humans? That is realisation. Once realised mountains and no more mountains they are very temporary particles of energy which are parts of that universal energy which even this human body is; a temporary form. Then that 'I' is no more a 'I' but becomes part of that universal 'I". This 'I' or the individual energy/consciousness is only a tiny part of that universal energy/consciousness.

No... A mountain is a mountain because "mountain" is a word made by humans to describe the phenomena... Simple as that: Buddhism doesn't seek to remove basic human conventions of communication. People must understand each other, otherwise the point is lost. If i called a mountain a "cat" then people would think i was talking about a cat... While deep down these conventions are slight attachments to Samsara, they are necessary to convey a message. This is a forum where we communicate through text.

Don't confuse people unnecessarily. That too will cause suffering.

Second, is the body an "I" in the first place? Are you your body? I'm inclined to say, no, you are not your body. And this would be extremely apparent to most people regardless of their faith or philosophy. I wouldn't even call my mind "I." It's merely a part of the whole, influenced by previous actions and causes, and is impermanent and thus empty.

The point is that the "self", or specifically, the concept of the self is pointless and empty: It is obvious that every single aspect of our being was influenced by a previous action and nothing of us exists independently of each other. We are no different from a rock in that sense.

universal energy/consciousness

It sounds like you were influenced 50% by Buddhism, 50% by New Age journals. I would like to emphasize to you that most of the latter were written under the influence of drugs.

Buddhism makes no claims of universal consciousness. And no one knows what happens after the death of a liberated one, truly. No Buddhist master will ever claim otherwise. It'd be a guess.

 

[zenzero]

Friend Darkstorm,

Thank you for pointing to few things from the post which are strictly not confirming to the tenets of 'buddhism'.

That too will cause suffering.

The post was to help understand the phenomenon and also to understand that 'sufferings' are cause of the mind and that only on transcending the mind is one free from suffering.
Sufferings are not caused by what one reads here [post] but is due to that very mind which is reading and forming pictures and then matching them with set patterns ingrained in the mind from past and miss matches caused the mind to suffer.

True certain parts are not 'buddhism' but from sanatan dharma from which buddhism evolved and the background that filled this form in this life.

However efforts are only to share understanding of things from personal experiences which are unique to every individual even following an universal concept labelled 'dharma'.

Love & rgds

 

[arcanum]

I think the op' s question is what has always been problematic for me in regards to Buddhism, there is no cap stone so to speak. It's like an arch without a top, there really is no higher purpose. I have tremendous respect for and resonate with a lot of Buddhist ideas but I could never fully embrace it. There is a nilhistic hidden program running in the background somewhere, though most Buddhists would deny this. For me anyways there is a missing ingredient but I believe anyone could benefit from its practices and many of its ideas. I'm all for relieving suffering as there certainly is a lot of that to go around in this world, but for me that's not enough.

 

[DreadFish]

I think the op' s question is what has always been problematic for me in regards to Buddhism, there is no cap stone so to speak. It's like an arch without a top, there really is no higher purpose. I have tremendous respect for and resonate with a lot of Buddhist ideas but I could never fully embrace it. There is a nilhistic hidden program running in the background somewhere, though most Buddhists would deny this. For me anyways there is a missing ingredient but I believe anyone could benefit from its practices and many of its ideas. I'm all for relieving suffering as there certainly is a lot of that to go around in this world, but for me that's not enough.

The point is simply to free oneself from stress and dissatisfaction. If you were actually free from stress and dissatisfaction, it would be enough for you.

I would say Buddhism is more realistic than nihilistic. It states the fact that all things in life are ultimately dis-satisfactory and within everything, there is a sense of stress to some degree. All this is rooted in self-identification with conditioned phenomena which are not, and have never been, your self, nor belonging to yourself. Actually perceiving this and experiencing it, we then live in a natural state of freedom and lasting happiness and the functioning of the whole continues functioning. The only reason why our happiness is not lasting right now is that we base our happiness on the state of certain phenomena which are constantly changing, thus the happiness comes and goes with it all. It's all just a big misunderstanding.

 

[Darkstorn]

I think the op' s question is what has always been problematic for me in regards to Buddhism, there is no cap stone so to speak. It's like an arch without a top, there really is no higher purpose.

The purpose is to end suffering, both on a personal level and for the entire mankind. Many religions claim belief to a creator being as a higher purpose. I find this subjective. In my view, actually ending suffering from the world is the highest possible purpose: Suffering is the reason for all anguish. By the very definition of the word.

I would argue that wanting a higher purpose causes suffering: It means you are not satisfied with what's already there.

Now, i do think there is no purpose in life itself. If there were, it would imply a creator being and indeed, that the purpose does not come from our own actions but something controlling us. This i cannot believe.

I have tremendous respect for and resonate with a lot of Buddhist ideas but I could never fully embrace it.

I find many people embracing Buddhism: Usually to fullfill a want. Sometimes even so little as wanting to belong or being able to say to someone that "i am a Buddhist." I know such people personally.

You're not supposed to embrace it: You're supposed to read / listen a few statements about reality. If you find these to be true through logical reasoning, then you are a Buddhist: Buddhism rejects belief of any kind. You must learn about things enough for your knowledge to be considered fact.

It is noteworthy that most of Buddhism's "ideas" are scientifically verifiable. Therefore you cannot embrace it any more than you can embrace the fact that the sky is blue due to the scattering of light.

There is a nilhistic hidden program running in the background somewhere, though most Buddhists would deny this. For me anyways there is a missing ingredient but I believe anyone could benefit from its practices and many of its ideas. I'm all for relieving suffering as there certainly is a lot of that to go around in this world, but for me that's not enough.

It would be enough if you understood what suffering meant. The Sanskrit and Pali words for it mean a multitude of things simultaneously: All the way from mild annoyance to extreme physical pain. When a Buddhist says "suffering" they truly mean ALL its implications at the same time.

The mere fact that you would want MORE than the ending of suffering will ONLY bring suffering: You would not be satisfied with what you already have. Bear in mind, you already HAVE the means to end suffering... In fact, it is the ONLY thing you have. Everything else of your being and personality are not truly yours: Not a single thought, not a single action. They were all influenced by previous phenomena. I can prove this in practice: You reading my post has already changed your thought process. And vice versa: I wouldn't have posted this if it weren't for your message.

One of the KEY concepts of Buddhism is the ending of wanting in your mind so you would no longer suffer from wanting things that you aren't getting.

Of course: You MIGHT get exactly the things you want. But what then? Is that then enough? Would getting into heaven be enough? What happens when you're there? Would you be satisfied with it? Or would you want something more then?

The point is: EVEN if you get the things you want, they will not bring permanent happiness... The things change, you change... Everything is impermanent. Especially your thoughts.

I hope this explains it more.

Ps. You're not supposed to believe in Buddhism.

/Edit: The post above me explains this with fewer words. I am very bad at Laconic speech but i understand so are many others so perhaps this post will also be of some use to some.

 

[arcanum]

The purpose is to end suffering, both on a personal level and for the entire mankind. Many religions claim belief to a creator being as a higher purpose. I find this subjective. In my view, actually ending suffering from the world is the highest possible purpose: Suffering is the reason for all anguish. By the very definition of the word.

I would argue that wanting a higher purpose causes suffering: It means you are not satisfied with what's already there.

Now, i do think there is no purpose in life itself. If there were, it would imply a creator being and indeed, that the purpose does not come from our own actions but something controlling us. This i cannot believe.



I find many people embracing Buddhism: Usually to fullfill a want. Sometimes even so little as wanting to belong or being able to say to someone that "i am a Buddhist." I know such people personally.

You're not supposed to embrace it: You're supposed to read / listen a few statements about reality. If you find these to be true through logical reasoning, then you are a Buddhist: Buddhism rejects belief of any kind. You must learn about things enough for your knowledge to be considered fact.

It is noteworthy that most of Buddhism's "ideas" are scientifically verifiable. Therefore you cannot embrace it any more than you can embrace the fact that the sky is blue due to the scattering of light.



It would be enough if you understood what suffering meant. The Sanskrit and Pali words for it mean a multitude of things simultaneously: All the way from mild annoyance to extreme physical pain. When a Buddhist says "suffering" they truly mean ALL its implications at the same time.

The mere fact that you would want MORE than the ending of suffering will ONLY bring suffering: You would not be satisfied with what you already have. Bear in mind, you already HAVE the means to end suffering... In fact, it is the ONLY thing you have. Everything else of your being and personality are not truly yours: Not a single thought, not a single action. They were all influenced by previous phenomena. I can prove this in practice: You reading my post has already changed your thought process. And vice versa: I wouldn't have posted this if it weren't for your message.

One of the KEY concepts of Buddhism is the ending of wanting in your mind so you would no longer suffer from wanting things that you aren't getting.

Of course: You MIGHT get exactly the things you want. But what then? Is that then enough? Would getting into heaven be enough? What happens when you're there? Would you be satisfied with it? Or would you want something more then?

The point is: EVEN if you get the things you want, they will not bring permanent happiness... The things change, you change... Everything is impermanent. Especially your thoughts.

I hope this explains it more.

Ps. You're not supposed to believe in Buddhism.

/Edit: The post above me explains this with fewer words. I am very bad at Laconic speech but i understand so are many others so perhaps this post will also be of some use to some.

I appreciate your words, and I truly appreciate much of Buddha's teachings. I just think Buddhism's atheistic mindset is a hindrance for me, but it's methodology is top-notch. Not that I believe an an anthropomorphic idea of God, but I do believe in a transcendent power in which all beings inhabit and manifest within this power.

 

[Willamena]

I appreciate your words, and I truly appreciate much of Buddha's teachings. I just think Buddhism's atheistic mindset is a hindrance for me, but it's methodology is top-notch. Not that I believe an an anthropomorphic idea of God, but I do believe in a transcendent power in which all beings inhabit and manifest within this power.

Perhaps Dogen would be more to your tastes.

 

[punkdbass]

I think the op' s question is what has always been problematic for me in regards to Buddhism, there is no cap stone so to speak. It's like an arch without a top, there really is no higher purpose. I have tremendous respect for and resonate with a lot of Buddhist ideas but I could never fully embrace it. There is a nilhistic hidden program running in the background somewhere, though most Buddhists would deny this. For me anyways there is a missing ingredient but I believe anyone could benefit from its practices and many of its ideas. I'm all for relieving suffering as there certainly is a lot of that to go around in this world, but for me that's not enough.

See my thread here on how Buddhism is not nihilism. It does seem that many people who first look into Buddhism, or have or more "surface level" experience with Buddhism, draw the inference that Buddhism is nihilistic. I used to feel this, and sometimes still do, but I can assure you that all deeply experienced Buddhists would disagree with the association of Buddhism and nihilism.

 

[atanu]

I appreciate your words, and I truly appreciate much of Buddha's teachings. I just think Buddhism's atheistic mindset is a hindrance for me, but it's methodology is top-notch. Not that I believe an an anthropomorphic idea of God, but I do believe in a transcendent power in which all beings inhabit and manifest within this power.

Zen for Americans: The God-Conception of Buddhism

I found the above text helpful.

 

[Willamena]

What is the purpose of life to a Buddhist? I know a Buddhist practices mindfulness to help eliminate suffering, but to what end do we practice mindfulness?

Isn't an "end" mu?

Practice is, or it is not.

 

[punkdbass]

Isn't an "end" mu?

Practice is, or it is not.

Yea I suppose you're right

 

[Darkstorn]

I appreciate your words, and I truly appreciate much of Buddha's teachings. I just think Buddhism's atheistic mindset is a hindrance for me, but it's methodology is top-notch. Not that I believe an an anthropomorphic idea of God, but I do believe in a transcendent power in which all beings inhabit and manifest within this power.

It's not a mindset really: Buddhism seeks to answer reality in a realistic way. And as such, many of its statements about reality openly contradict any sort of creator being: It doesn't exclude the existence of gods per say. But it strictly posits that they cannot be omniscient.

It posits that you'll find happiness from within. No one's going to give it to you, you have to work for it. To end suffering, one must first remove the *causes* for suffering. And from personal experience, belief in a creator brings suffering. It is wanting something that isn't immediately found within you or your immediate environment. It's literally a form of desire:

Wanting something specific. And wanting leads to suffering.

 

[ratikala]

It posits that you'll find happiness from within. No one's going to give it to you, you have to work for it. To end suffering, one must first remove the *causes* for suffering. And from personal experience, belief in a creator brings suffering. It is wanting something that isn't immediately found within you or your immediate environment. It's literally a form of desire:

the aleviation of personal suffering is prehaps the first and most basic teaching and level of realisation where everything relates to the self , here happiness and distress relates to the self and to personal experience . one has to progress through this stage to unnderstand at any other level ,
thus lord Buddha primarily concerned himself with teaching at this level , ...that doesnot mean that no other level of understanding exists

Wanting something specific. And wanting leads to suffering.

then there is the question of greater suffering which is not related to our own desires but is related to the nature of embodied existance ?

Buddhism also answers this question , but it canot be understood by practitioners untill they have trancended personal suffering .

it is no good to beleive in gods or creator beings one needs to be open to experiencing and knowing what we call god , ...which does not cause suffering , ..it causes imense joy .

 

[Banjankri]

This is one aspect of Buddhism that I've always been confused about. What is the purpose of life to a Buddhist?

To understand the purposelessness of life. That brings extinction of suffering.