The Four Noble Truths

Continuing from last week's discussion of Buddhist ethics, today we will look at the 4 Noble Truths. When the historical Buddha first began to teach, he explained the Four Noble Truths which are the core of Buddhist teachings.

The First Noble Truth is called the Truth of Suffering and refers to unsatisfactory nature of life. Buddha  explained three types of suffering. The first is called the Suffering of Suffering. This is the suffering of pain and illnesses, etc. The second is the Suffering of Change. This is the suffering we experience when a relationship ends, a favourite tea cup breaks, or our reputation is tarnished. The Third type of suffering is called All-Pervasive Suffering. This refers to the conditions that exist because of the way in which we perceive ourselves in relation to the world. It is the basis of the other two sufferings and is challenging to see. However if we strive to understand the nature of our experience then we can change it. I have heard it equated to a dormant fatal disease. It's there even if we are consciously unaware and we are not able to heal it  until we know and understand it.

This leads nicely into the Second Noble Truth which is the Truth of the Cause of Suffering. Buddha taught that the mind which is influenced by negative thoughts is the cause of suffering. The clinging mind that wants something other than that which is at the present moment is the problem. When we have positive mindstates or experiences we cling to them, not wanting them to end and when we have negative ones we want to push them away. This clinging mind is what causes our suffering.

The Third Noble Truth is the Truth of Cessation of Suffering. Buddha taught that it is possible to cease the suffering we experience. If the root cause of suffering is within our own mind, then the way out of suffering will be found by deeply examining the true nature of mind. Buddha said that if we realise the true nature of our minds then we will be released from suffering.

The Forth Noble Truth is the Truth of the Path to the Cessation of Suffering. Buddha outlined the method for achieving the cessation of suffering which is the Noble Eightfold Path, separated into three categories, Wisdom, Ethics and Concentration. I will just list the eight today and explain them further next week.

Right View
Right Intention
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration

Another way to explain the 4 Noble Truths is by using a medical analogy. Think of Buddha as the physician. The 1st Noble Truth is the Diagnosis, the 2nd Noble Truth is the Etiology, the Third Noble Truth is the Prognosis, and the 4th is the Prescription.


Practice: This week spend some time examining suffering in your life. When you get upset, take a look at what type of suffering you are experiencing. Suffering of suffering? Suffering of change? Does examining your suffering in this way change it? Let us know how it goes! 

Chat with you next week....until then take good care of yourselves!

Metta,

Dharma Mama