Initial Post Instructions
For the initial post, respond to only one of the following options:
Option 1
For this option, address the following:
Define Theravada and Mahayana forms of Buddhism.
Describe the Arhat and the Bodhisattva and explain how each achieves the goal of nirvana.
Examine how each ideal relates to one or more of the following key concepts/teachings: Four Noble Truths, Three marks of reality, Noble Eightfold Path.
Explain which of these ideals you believe best expresses healthcare ideals.
Option 2
For this option, address the following:
Explain the Buddhist understanding of dukkha.
Why do many scholars feel that “suffering” may be a misleading translation of the word dukkha? What might be a better translation?
What did the Buddha offer as a way to overcome dukkha and how does it explain his understanding?
In what ways does the Buddhist notion of dukkha challenge or affirm Western medical practice?