Some of the theories of Buddhism in ancient times were just self-soothing in the face of suffering

The ancient Buddhist theory, a magnificent and mysterious philosophical edifice, seems to be the cornerstone of which is a deep reflection on human suffering. However, some people have questioned that these theories are just a way for ancient people to find self-comfort in the face of life's tribulations.

When we trace the origins of Buddhism, it is not difficult to find that it was conceived in a social environment full of suffering. Poverty, war, and disease threaten people's survival all the time. In this context, the Buddha founded Buddhism and put forward a series of theories about the cycle of birth and death, the suffering of the four noble truths, etc.

However, some people believe that these theories are just the product of people looking for spiritual solace in the predicament of not being able to change reality. This is not to deny the wisdom and understanding of the Buddha, but rather a response to the inner aspirations of the people of that era.

In ancient times, there was a huge gap between the level of social development and the level of science and technology compared with today. There is a lack of knowledge in the fields of medicine and psychology, and people lack a deep scientific understanding of phenomena such as illness and life and death. In the face of unexplained natural phenomena and unavoidable suffering, people seek a kind of spiritual comfort, and Buddhist theories become part of this search.

There was a scholar named Wang Xiaoming, who studied the Buddhist scriptures in depth, but said in a discussion: "It was natural for people in ancient times to look for explanations and relief in the face of all kinds of suffering. The Buddhist theory may have been just an explanation of the world at that time, a kind of spiritual consolation for the predicament that could not be changed. ”

Birth, old age, sickness and death are eternal topics for human beings, and Buddhist theories such as the cycle of life and death and nirvana seem to give people the possibility of transcending the constraints of the physical body. However, it has been argued that this is nothing more than an evasion of the irreversible nature of life, a religious fantasy.

In ancient times, the level of medicine was far inferior to today's, and many diseases were considered incurable. Birth, old age, sickness and death are often unavoidable fates, and Buddhist theory may provide a transcendent possibility in the face of such helplessness. However, now that we have more advanced medical technology and ways to prolong life, people's perception of life has changed. Therefore, do we still need to be as attached to the Buddhist theory of the cycle of life and death as the ancients?

Moreover, the Buddhist explanation of human suffering seems to be oversimplified. Although the suffering of the Four Noble Truths has a certain explanatory power for some of the troubles in life, can it really cover the complexity and changeability of life? Some people have pointed out that although some Buddhist theories, such as "the suffering of birth, old age, sickness, and death," have a certain basis in reality, are they too one-sided to truly explain the true appearance of life?

In this regard, some scholars have argued that Buddhist theories are to some extent a generalization of the suffering of life, but not representative of the real experience of each individual. While people pursue happiness and joy, they also experience positive emotions such as friendship, love, and achievement. Buddhism's simplification of life into a series of sufferings may have somewhat weakened the pursuit of happiness.

One might say that the theory of Buddhism is not intended to provide a detailed analysis of each person's life, but to provide a way of thinking that transcends the mundane. However, with the progress of society, people's understanding of life and society is also deepening, and a single explanation of Buddhist theory may not be enough to meet the thinking needs of contemporary people.

Of course, we cannot deny the tremendous contribution of Buddhism to ancient societies. In the era when there was no advanced technology, Buddhism provided people with a kind of spiritual comfort that transcended material things, and gave countless people the courage to find peace in the midst of suffering. However, as the times evolve, should we re-examine these ancient theories and consider whether they are still relevant in today's society?

To answer this question, we may need to retain our reverence for the wisdom of Buddhism and examine the applicability of its theories with a more open mind. The theories of ancient Buddhism did play a positive role in the social environment of the time, providing people with a kind of spiritual support in the face of difficult situations. However, with the evolution of society and the development of technology, do we still need to rely on these ancient theories to face today's complex and changeable life?

Perhaps, we can see Buddhist theories as the product of philosophical reflection rather than as an absolute explanation of life. In contemporary society, we have a more comprehensive scientific knowledge, and great progress has been made in psychology, medicine and other disciplines, which allows us to understand more deeply the physiological, psychological and social behavior of human beings. In this context, we may be able to use these achievements of modern science more flexibly to find more practical spiritual comfort for ourselves.

The theories of ancient Buddhism may have placed too much emphasis on the suffering and impermanence of the world, but in today's society, can we pay more attention to the positive experience of human beings and to the beautiful and colorful aspects of life? In this era of information explosion, we have more channels to understand different ways of life and philosophical concepts, and we can draw on the wisdom of various cultures to form a more pluralistic spiritual support system.

Of course, this does not mean that we should completely abandon the theories of ancient Buddhism. They are still revelatory in some ways and can give us a deeper reflection on the nature of life. However, we need to carefully select and combine the knowledge of modern science with a more comprehensive perspective to understand the meaning of human existence.

Perhaps, we need more dialogue and exchange, merging ancient philosophy with modern science. In a positive trend, the field of psychology has begun to include some Buddhist meditation and mindfulness practices and found that they have a positive effect on relieving anxiety, stress, and other problems. This kind of comprehensive research is expected to provide people with more practical and scientific tools for the mind.

In this dizzying society, we may need to be more flexible in the use of various ideological resources to build a spiritual support system that is more in line with practical needs. Whether it is ancient Buddhist theory or modern scientific knowledge, it should be a reference for us to think about the meaning of life, rather than a rigid dogma.

In the end, some of the theories of Buddhism in ancient times were just self-consolation in the face of suffering, which is not a denial of its wisdom, but a deeper reflection on its applicability in today's society. While respecting traditional wisdom, we need to dare to expand the boundaries of thinking and find a more suitable way to support the soul of contemporary people. Perhaps, this kind of comprehensive thinking can help us find a more balanced and fulfilling path to life.