Essay 2 on Buddhism

* respond to this post using 250 words at least* :
Buddhists do not believe in the existence of self (or soul). Can Buddhists still be morally good people?
The self is the identity that we feel distinguishes us from other people; it makes you, even when your body or beliefs change due to growing. Many psychologists debate whether this is physical continuity or psychological continuity. On the other hand, the Buddha took a completely different perspective and inquired about whether or not there is a self. Yet, they arent claiming that we are utterly devoid of individuality. They believe in rebirth and hence believe that our acts have consequences. As a result, I feel that Buddhists can be good people even if they do not believe in the concept of the self.
Don’t take what isn’t given, don’t lie or deceive. These are the goals of honorable individuals. Showing respect and being a decent person entails not taking what is not given to you and not lying. The expectations we have in our culture when it comes to ethical people. As a result, this demonstrates that Buddhas, like other humans, are ethically virtuous individuals.
Another reason for this can be found in the denial of self. The Buddha discusses the existence of suffering in this world. Strongly identifying with something can cause a person to suffer more than necessary. As a result, by not believing in the sense of self, that burden is lifted. Morally good people want what is best for others, and avoiding suffering is beneficial to others.
Overall, not believing in themselves does not preclude one from being a morally good person. It only goes to show that Buddhists have their reasons for not believing in themselves. As we dug deeper into those reasons, we discovered that the real reason is that they are lovely people who want to alleviate the suffering of others.

2nd Essay Assignment on Buddhism (Chs 6 & 7)
Suggested Topics
Choose a religious view that you like or dislike most among our topics in Buddhism, and critically discuss it. I am giving you a freedom to choose your own topic as long as you satisfy the following requirement: describe the view concisely, discuss why it is good or not, consider possible objections to your evaluation, think of rebuttals of these objections to save your original view, and briefly conclude your discussions.

Buddhists do not believe in the existence of self (or soul). Can Buddhists still be morally good people?

Why should the enlightened one take care of the other suffering creatures? Was the Buddhas decision to teach and save the suffering creatures consistent with his doctrine of non-attachment? How could the enlightened one save the world without violating the teaching of non-attachment?

How does enlightenment make us more concerned about the welfare of others? Does enlightenment lead to moral improvement?

The following is the Buddhas words on the teaching of dependent origination (interdependent arising): This exists when that exists, this originates from the origination of that; this does not exist when that does not exist, this ceases from the cessation of that. Why is this doctrine of dependent origination important for the Buddhas teaching? Critically discuss it.

How is the Way of the Great Vehicle (Mahayana) different from the Way of the Elders (Theravada)? Mahayanists (of North and East Asia) have claimed that Theravadins (of South Asia) do not really teach or exercise the virtue of compassion. Is this criticism fair?

The Mahayana traditions claim that perfect wisdom transcends the conceptual knowledge. Critically discuss this fundamental claim of the Mahayanists.

What does it mean to say that everything is empty of self-nature (own-being, or intrinsic essence)? Critically discuss it.

Tibetan Buddhism may well be characterized as Tantric Buddhism. How is their Tantric tradition different from other Buddhist traditions such as Theravada, Madhyamaka, Yogacara, and Zen? What is the (philosophical) strength, if there is any, of Tibetan Buddhism when compared to and contrasted with other traditions?

What is the major philosophical view of the Tiantai (Tientai) School of Chinese Buddhism? How do you think their view will help one get enlightened and achieve nirvana more efficiently than other Indian traditions?

The following stanza represents the spirit of Chan (Zen) traditions of China. Explain the gist of Chan and critically discuss it. How can Chan help people get enlightened?

A special tradition outside the scripture;
With no dependence upon words and letter.
A direct pointing into the mind;
Seeing there one’s own nature, and attaining Buddhahood.
Requirements
Read the academic honesty policy in the course syllabus.

You do not have to answer all the questions in the topic. What I want to read is an essay, after all, not an exam paper. Try to focus on just one or two points.

You should try to narrow down the scope of your topic and discuss it in depth. Jumbling up many miscellaneous points in a short essay does not make a philosophy paper.

Papers with more than five serious grammatical or spelling errors will not be graded. They will receive no credits.

Papers written for the other class(es) will get no credits.
It is the four essay assignments that will evaluate your deep understanding of, and critical and creative approaches to our topics. For each essay assignment, you can choose to post your own discussion note, or you may comment on other student(s) note(s). Each post will give you maximum 14.5% of your final grade. Each essay must have at least 250 but no more than 500 words; if your essay is not quite perfect in its content or has fewer than 250 words, you will get 0%~14.49%. For a given assignment you may post as many essays (discussion notes or comments) as you would like, but only one best essay (discussion note or comment) will count toward your final grade. In short, all I need for each essay assignment is just one essay, whether it is your essay that you start the discussion thread with, or a comment essay on other student(s). Four of your essays will constitute 58% (4 x 14.5%) of your final grade.
Students are encouraged to read regularly other students discussion notes and comments. You are required to comment on other note(s) if there is another note already posted that has the same subject as yours that is, you are not allowed to start a new thread of discussion if your subject overlaps with other student(s). This is to encourage everybody to read other students notes regularly. A failure to comply with this requirement may result in no credit for your post. Just write a sentence or two at the beginning of your essay as evidence that you have read other students essays of the same topic.

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