Four Noble Truths

The Four Noble Truths The Buddhas teachings are based upon the solid foundation of Truth in the Four Noble Truths, which can be known by all. They are not beliefs with unknown basis accepted on mere faith. They start from the center of our very own undeniable direct human experience. o o o o o o o o o o o What are the Four Noble Truths? The 1st Noble Truth: The Truth Of Dukkha The 2nd Noble Truth: The Truth Of The Origin Of Dukkha The 3rd Noble Truth: The Truth Of The End Of Dukkha Nirvana The 4th Noble Truth: The Truth Of The Path Leading To The End Of Dukkha Why is there so Much Suffering in Buddhism? What About Happiness? Are the Four Noble Truths Pessimistic? How are the Four Noble Truths Important? How do the Four Noble Truths Work? What is the Origin of the Four Noble Truths?

What are the Four Noble Truths? The Buddha was only interested in showing us a clear direct path to True Happiness. The Four Noble Truths form the heart of the Buddhas Teachings. They are noble because they are taught by the Noble Ones those who have direct perception of reality. By understanding them, we become ennobled. The First Noble Truth: The Truth Of Dukkha Life is Full of Dissatisfactions We undergo many dissatisfactory experiences (dukkha), which should be identified: Birth, Ageing, Sickness, Death, Departure from who/what we like, Being with who/what we dislike, Failing to achieve or be with who/what we want The Second Noble Truth: The Truth Of The Origin Of Dukkha The Causes of Dissatisfactions These unsatisfactory experiences have causes, which should be identified: Craving (Greed or Wanting), Aversion (Hatred or Not Wanting) and Ignorance (Delusion or Lack of Wisdom) The Third Noble Truth: The Truth Of The End Of Dukkha Nirvana Life Can be Without Dissatisfactions There is a peaceful state where there are no unsatisfactory experiences: Enlightenment or Nirvana (the extinguishments of Craving, Aversion and Ignorance) The Fourth Noble Truth: The Truth Of The Path Leading To The End Of Dukkha The Way to Life Without Dissatisfactions There is a path to lead us to this state of Peace and True Happiness:

The Noble Eightfold Path. Why is there so Much Suffering in Buddhism? The use of the word suffering in Buddhism can be misleading. When we hear the Buddha say life is suffering, we wonder what He is saying, as most of us dont experience extreme misery most of the time. The actual word used by the Buddha is dukkha, which means that things arent completely right in our lives there are many unsatisfactory conditions in our existence; something always seems amiss. Suffering used in Buddhism thus refers to all kinds of dissatisfactions big and small. What About Happiness? To live is to experience a greater or lesser degree of dissatisfaction. The Buddha never denied that there is joy and happiness in life. But the nagging problem of dissatisfaction is always around, while happiness is always swiftly fleeting by. This is the only problem in our lives. But it is the biggest problem as it encompasses all problems we face. The Buddha is only drawing our attention to the fact that suffering is an inevitable part of life, that it is a problem that all experience, and wish to avoid, and that it can be overcome with the attainment of Nirvana (True Happiness). Are the Four Noble Truths Pessimistic? Some say Buddhism is a pessimistic religion that it keeps talking about suffering. This is definitely untrue. But neither is Buddhism a blindly optimistic religion. It is however, realistic and full of hope as it teaches that True Happiness is achievable through personal endeavor, one being the master of ones life. Problems and difficulties exist whether we think of them or not. But only with honest recognition of them is solving them possible. The Buddha stated the indisputable truth that life is full of dissatisfactions so that He could teach us the way out of dissatisfactions towards True Happiness! How are the Four Noble Truths Important? To realize the Four Noble Truths is the central task of the Buddhist life as they lead to True Happiness. You will discover that the structure of the Four Noble Truths is the most simple, logical, scientific and systematic problem-solving formula possible. As these truths solve the ultimate problem of suffering, they are very important indeed. How do the Four Noble Truths Work? The first Truth states our problem of suffering. The second states the cause of the problem. The third states the ideal state without the problem, and the fourth Truth states how this ideal state can be achieved. What is the Origin of the Four Noble Truths? The Four Noble Truths were first taught by the Buddha during His first sermon at the Deer Park in Isipatana (of ancient India near todays Benares) after He attained Enlightenment that was more than 2,500 years ago. The sermon was called the Dharmmacakkappavattana Sutta (The Teaching of the Setting the Wheel of Dharma in Motion) All the teachings that the Buddha later gave were either further in-depth elaboration of the Four Noble Truths, or teachings that led to them. He used a wide variety of skillful means and methods in teaching them to different people Resource: http://dougal.union.ic.ac.uk/scc/buddhist/buddhist2010/?page_id=75