A Reflection On The Temples Wat Buddharangsi - 1574 Words

Upon entering the property of Homestead’s Wat Buddharangsi, a Thai Buddhist temple, I was immediately overcome with a sense of tranquility and amiability. The elaborate structure is adorned with decorative Thai architecture and various Buddhist idols and relics. Secluded from the fast-paced, cacophonous atmosphere that typically characterizes South Florida, the sanctuary serves as a refuge for those of the Buddhist faith, as well as those simply seeking solace on the temple’s soothing grounds. Among the few people meandering about the temple was a Buddhist practitioner and teacher, who we then spent the remainder of our time speaking with and gaining insight on both his individual experiences with Buddhism as well as the operations of the†¦show more content†¦The Four Noble Truths remain an integral aspect of Buddhist life at the Wat Buddharangsi. The understanding of the relationship between dukkha, tanha, nirodha, and magga (the Eightfold Path) is crucial to achieving the inner peace and enlightenment sought out by practitioners of Buddhism. Moreover, it is important to understand the root of our suffering, or dukkha. Traditionally, this is known as tanha, or thirst; however, during my visit to the temple, the man with whom I spoke had a much more personal and individual take on the subject. Through his life, he had experienced a series of traumatic events that caused him to feel as though the world around him consisted merely of chaos and pain. In an effort to discover some form of relief, he sought guidance in various religious practices, until finally, he recognized Buddhism as his chosen faith. Over time, he began to realize that in order to achieve happiness, one must learn how to control the negative emotions we, as human beings, are often so inclined towards. Although during our classroom discussions it was implied that this meant learning to not feel these emotions at all, my inquiry at the Wat Buddharangsi signified otherwise. Instead, one must learn to recognize and acknowledge these emotions, and rather than acting upon them, realize that these actions only lead to more suffering for one’s self. In conjunction with this, the Buddhist instructor imparted upon me that one of the most