Buddhism - : Training the mind properly is more important than acting correctly Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

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Farah Siddiqui 9A

Assessment Question: ‘Training the mind properly is more important than acting correctly’ Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

The symbol of Buddhism is the wheel. The circle represents samsara (the cycle of life). Buddhists believe that after they die their life force will travel to a higher level if they do good actions during their life and to a lower level if they do bad actions. The Buddha taught people how to escape the cycle and reach Nirvana. He told them that if they want to reach Nirvana, they must follow the four noble truths and the eightfold path. The eight spokes on the wheel represent the eightfold path.

The Eightfold Path has three sections: wisdom, action & training the mind. Some people believe that training the mind properly is more important than acting correctly. They believe that if you train the mind properly, then you will automatically act correctly. The sixth rule of the eightfold path is ‘right effort’. ‘Right effort’ is to train yourself to avoid doing bad things and working hard to do good. This is important because it won’t make others suffer because you won’t do bad things. Also, others will benefit from the good things you do, which will prevent people from suffering. Some people believe that if you follow this rule you will avoid killing, stealing, and being dishonest and unfaithful, as well as avoid drinking or taking drugs. This is the fourth rule (right action), which is automatically fulfilled because of following the sixth rule, you have already trained yourself not to commit bad actions.

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The seventh rule of the eightfold path is ‘right awareness’ which means to control your mind so that you can see things around you in the right way. This is an important rule because it can prevent misunderstanding of situations, which means that both you and the others involved in the situation, do not suffer. Also, this rule means that you should believe that nothing lasts forever (annica), so that if you lose anything you won’t sorrow over the loss of anything (dukkha). If you follow this rule you will automatically follow the rules for actions (right action, right ...

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