A Survey of the Ideas of Khayyam based on the Concept of Noble Truth in Buddhism

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Assistant Professor, University of Birjand

Abstract

According to the school of trans-historicism any system of thought likely to be compared with others, provided that they are formed around the same axis. Accordingly, this study shows that, since the central thought is that of transience, and despite the differences between Buddhism and Khayyam’s system of thought, it is likely that one can investigate his system of thought within the framework of “the noble truth” in Buddhism. Transience is the first noble truth and the truth of suffering. However, this idea is not inherently paradoxical or negative for Buddha or Khayyam; however, the suffering reveals itself when man is caught in the cycle of becoming and transience. This is the second noble truth. In both systems of thought, suffering deals with a paradox between the love of life and survival in the world and its transience. The basic solution in both systems of thought is living in the moment with perfect awareness. This is the third and fourth noble truth, though with some differences.  

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