How do Buddhist believe to stop suffering?

Answer 1

The prescription for ending suffering was laid out by the historical buddha, Siddartha Gotama, very shortly after his own enlightenment. The Buddha put forth The Four Noble Truths, which are a cornerstone of Buddhism to this day. The First Noble Truth states that life is suffering. There are surely other ways to translate this from the ancient Pali language the Buddha was believed to have spoken then. The word from whence suffering is translated is the Pali word, dukkha, meaning; suffering, dis-ease, discomfort, etc. This is to mean an object, thought, sensation, emotion, to be found disagreeable with humans. Life is certainly full of these things. Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, sickness and death are suffering. The Second Noble Truth is the origin of suffering. The origin of suffering is in craving and attachment to craving. Craving for sensual desires. Craving for becoming. Craving for non-becoming. There are three aspects of The Second Noble Truth. There is an origin to suffering which is craving and attachment to desire. Desire should be let go of. Desire has been let go of. To suffer is to desire something which one wants or to desire to be rid of something one doesn't want, and the desire for sense pleasures. The Third Noble Truth tells of the cessation of suffering. The cessation of suffering is brought about by letting go of craving or desire. Renouncing craving leads to the cessation of suffering. Example: If one wants to have lots of money and doesn't get it, one will suffer. If one lets go of the craving for lots of money, one cuts off the source of this suffering. The Fourth Noble Truth states that there is a Noble Eightfold Path that leads to the end of suffering. The Noble Eightfold path consists of: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration. If one lives one everyday life by this method, one will cut off the origins of suffering. In addition to these things one must realize the teaching of annatta, or non-self. People throughout history and today tend to be extremely self-serving and self-centered. To realize that one does not truly own anything, merely possessing things, is one aspect. When one realizes that one does not even own one's body, thoughts, house, car; one becomes more peaceful, generous, happy. This also relates to the impermanent nature of all thing which arise or come into being. What arises or comes into being, will also cease, decay, disintegrate or die. This is the truth of impermanence. Knowledge of these things, and practice of the Noble Eightfold Path is the foundation of how buddhists strive to reach the goal of ending suffering. Only enlightenment, the cessation of becoming (rebirth), is the way to eliminate suffering entirely.