The Four Noble Truths
The Buddha taught that life was inherently suffering, that it is caused by Tanha (craving,
attachment), but that this condition was curable by following the Eightfold Noble Path.
This teaching is called the Four Noble Truths.
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Dukkha: Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering,
death is suffering; union with what is displeasing is suffering; separation
from what is pleasing is suffering; not to get what one wants is suffering;
in brief, the five aggregates subject to clinging are suffering.
-
The origin of suffering:
The Tanha which leads to Rebirth (reincarnation).
- The cessation of suffering:
The cessation of Tanha.
- The way leading to the cessation of suffering:
The Noble Eightfold Path;
The Noble Eightfold Path
The Noble Eightfold Path is the way to the cessation of suffering, the fourth part of the
Four Noble Truths. In order to fully understand the noble truths and investigate whether they
were in fact true, Buddha recommended that a certain path be followed which consists of:
- Right View - Realizing the Four Noble Truths sammā-ditthi.
- Right Intention - Commitment to mental and Ethical growth in moderation sammā-sankappa.
- Right Speech - One speaks in a non hurtful, not exaggerated, truthful way sammā-vācā.
- Right Action - Wholesome action, avoiding action that would hurt others sammā-kammanta.
- Right Work - Ones job does not hurt oneself or others; directly or indirectly
(weapon maker, drug dealer, etc.) sammā-ājīva.
- Right Effort - One makes an effort to improve sammā-vāyāma.
- Right Mindfulness - Mental ability to see things for what they are with clear consciousness sammā-sati.
- Right Concentration - State where one reaches enlightenment and the ego has disappeared sammā-samādhi.
The word sammā means "turned to one point or against each other, universus or adversus;
whole, entire, all; correct, right, true." There are a number of ways to interpret the Eightfold Path.
On one hand, the Noble Eightfold Path is spoken of as being a progressive series of stages through which the
practitioner moves, the culmination of one leading to the beginning of another, whereas others see it
as the states of the 'Path' as requiring simultaneous development. It is also common to categorise into wisdom
(Pāli paññā), virtuous behaviour (Pāli sīla) and concentration (Pāli Samadhi).
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
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