Week 9 - BUDDHISM .

               I actually do believe that it is possible to live according to the teachings of buddhism in the contemporary United States. Although it is a major conflict between what Buddhism teaches and  how we are encouraged to think and act within our society. I believe that if a person truly wants to live their life a certain way they can, with hard work and determination. according to buddhism the main source of our suffering is our preoccupation with our desires. Suffering is caused by selfish cravings and desires. which is completely true. Our society creates this image of the perfect life that has a lot to do with materialistic things which in the end don't necessarily amount to happiness. and we cause ourselves to suffer because we are selfish and don't care about anyone but ourselves for the most part and the desire to be better than everyone else and have power and live lavish lifestyles that are unrealistic. The contemporary United States paints this image, and Buddhism in a sense paints the picture of being happier with the simpler things and when we detach from our narrow concerns with ourselves and truly become enlightened and live our lives to their fullest potential. I think it's possible to live this way although it's not easy i think it would make things much better and the world would be a completely different place if everyone were to follow the teachings of buddhist. It would be a simpler United States, with selfless people who were actually concerned about the world around them not just themselves in the world.