Our fundamental problem as human beings is that we suffer. We are constantly suffering, this continues from one life to the next through reincarnation. Realization that we have a problem is the first of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism. In Theravada Buddhism we don't simply suffer in superficial ways, instead we suffer in permeates in every aspect of our lives. We suffer in when we are ill as well and when we see our loved ones ill. We suffer from the first moment of life birth, all the way through our very last moment of life, death. While we do experience brief periods of happiness and satisfaction in life, the suffering that we experience heavily outweighs any brief period of happiness or satisfaction.

The 8 Fold Path states what must be attained in order to fully reach such a state as nirvana. The 8 levels are; right understanding, right purpose, right speech, right action, right living, right effort, right alertness, and right concentration. The key to beginning this process begins with understanding suffering. Buddhism believes that accepting the Four Noble Truths and following the 8 Fold Path is the only method that will allow us to reach nirvana. Therefore ending the suffering that permeates our lives. Nirvana cannot be specifically explained or understood without reaching such a state. However it is clear that Nirvana is reached through enlightenment by rejection of all desire. Therefore nirvana could be described as an extreme state of enlightenment in which all levels of the 8 Fold Path have been attained.

The issue of Nirvana is considered by Buddhists to be our absolute salvation that will free us from suffering. We are all created with capacities to feel both pain and pleasure; this is what makes us human. While reaching a state of Nirvana will remove the pain from our lives, it doesn't seem to add any pleasure. Thus is seems that Nirvana simply results in a complete desensitization to what makes us human. Nirvana is not salvation; freeing oneself from all of the capacities that makes us human doesn't appear to be enlightenment at all, but rather a state of not being any thing. Reaching a state of nirvana will only allow a person to become removed from life itself.

Another cause of suffering is the mi

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