Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s8.t3.8

v1.c7.s8.t3.8

Buddhism believes that the world is full of pain, which is directly related to man’s greed or desire, and desire comes from ignorance. Everything in the world or life phenomena is nothing but the separation and reunion of karma. With people being in ignorance believe that there are everlasting things, and pursue the eternal existence of self, but finally fail to realise it, which is because that everything is changeable, life is short, and there is no eternal entity (Atman) in life phenomena. When people pursue those things beyond their reach with the ignorant opinion, they will confront all sorts of troubles and pains. If people realise that everything or life phenomena is preordained, changeable and egoless, they will eliminate ignorance and not go for those that do not exist, thus, they will have no greed. In this way, people can remove the trouble and pain, or reach nirvana or liberation.