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Samsara - Coggle Diagram

- - - - The three fires are not important to Buddhists
        
        There are other teachings which are more important than the three fires, such as the four noble truths which were the focus of the Buddha's first sermon
        
        The four noble truths teach that the three fires emanate from craving and it is overcoming craving in all its forms that will lead to nirvana - therefore understanding craving (tanha) is more important
        
        Teachings on meditation (samadhi) may be seen as more important as they give practical guidance on how to overcome suffering and develop wisdom, rather than just outlining theoretical key teachings
        
        As the three fires are connected to the Buddha's first sermon on the four noble truths and are not a separate doctrine, they are not the most important teaching in isolation
      - The three fires are important to Buddhists
        
        The three fires can be seen as the root of all impure mental states (akusala)
        
        The three fires can be seen as powering samsara and rebirth - acting out of greed, hatred and delusion causes karma which leads to rebirth - therefore we continue to be trapped in samsara and suffer
        
        This is shown in the wheel of life with the three fires in the centre, representing their importance
        
        Acts motivated by the three fires cause suffering for us and others
        
        Reduction of the three fires is considered central to Buddhist practice within the eightfold path and within Buddhist ethics - by reducing the fires we can have a greater sense of morality (sila), wisdom (prajna) and it can aid meditation (samadhi)
        
        Nirvana, the aim of Buddhism for Theravadins, means 'blowing out' or extinguishing of the three fires
        
        There is a need for Buddhists to cultivate the opposite, wholesome motivations (kusala) - generosity, loving kindness and wisdom