Which of the following concepts, central to Buddhist philosophy, explains the root cause of suffering in life, and what is the prescribed path to alleviate this suffering?
Karma and the Eightfold Path
Tanha and the Middle Way
Ahimsa and renunciation
Moksha and the path of devotion
Answer and explanation
In Buddhist philosophy, Tanha (craving or desire) is identified as the root cause of suffering (Dukkha) per the Four Noble Truths, and the Middle Way — also known as the Noble Eightfold Path — is the prescribed path to alleviate it by avoiding the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification. Karma relates to moral causation across lives; Ahimsa and renunciation are more central to Jainism and Hinduism; and Moksha with bhakti are Hindu concepts.
