Noble Action, Sacred Call, or Desire

Week 3 Discussion for World Religions – REL212

“Noble Action, Sacred Call, or Desire” Please respond to the following:

Explain whether or not you think Siddhārtha Gautama’s quest to find enlightenment falls under the category of noble action, sacred call, or desire. Discuss how his decision to leave his family would be received in today’s culture.

Siddhārtha Gautama known as Buddha, was born a Prince in Lumbini. His father had a holy man prophesied that he would be a great spiritual leader or a great military conqueror. The king took things into his own hands and molded him to become a great warrior. But fate had another plan, one day the Prince wanted to journey outside the palace walls and saw sickness, disease and death. The prince was so disdained with what he saw that he no longer enjoyed the palace life and one day decided to leave.

Siddhārtha Gautama’s quest to find enlightenment falls under the category of desire. Bhuddha desire to find enlightment encouraged him to do the noble acts, such as renounce pleasure and eventually answer his sacred calling of spiritual leader.

Bhuddha’s decision to leave his family not would be received in today’s culture. Talking in context of today’s world, an act like this is a clear indication of a person running away from his responsibilities of family. This act in today’s world won’t be much appreciated and why leave the family behind to get enlightenment; they too need enlightening and peace. The wife and kids he left behind was left with grief and pain.

Fisher, M. P. (2014). Living religions (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.