. The goal of living and dying is to eventually be enlightened by seeing the world as it actually is instead of the illusion that we see with our senses. This state of enlightenment is known as Nirvana. To reach Nirvana it is necessary to give up all attachments to the things of this world, see the interconnectedness of everything, and have a clear empty mind so that you can see things the way they truly are. You must not cling on to anything because there is not anything solid enough. Everything is changing therefore nothing lasts. In the Western world we are very attached to our possessions, to the people that we care about, and especially to ourselves. Our attachments and desires cause our pain and suffering. Buddhism refers to the Four Noble Truths; first, there is suffering, you are the cause of your own suffering, there is a cure for the suffering, and the cure is the Eight-Fold Path. To be able to sacrifice everything, except the necessities, shows that you truly understand that there is more than just this life and you will break your attachments. For people like us, who are so fond of our lives and possessions, sacrifice seems almost impossible. However, sacrifice is easy if you know that your life is not permanent but only a small part of a chain of births and deaths. Also, it is almost impossible for us to imagine having no attachments to our lives or our bodies because in the Western belief that is our self and we are born and grow up with very strong self-preservation instincts. Buddhists on the other hand, believe that we need to recognize the true nature of the living world, and do not be anxious because separation cannot possibly be avoided. This attachment to our present lives and bodies will help us to ease our suffering and see the world, as it truly is, The Ultimate Reality. Another of the beliefs in Buddhism is the system of births and deaths called Samsara. A person is born and reborn until that p...
