The Four Noble Truths

This post is a precursor to some posts I'm going to make on understanding the "self" and gaining a higher understanding on the purpose and meaning of life. I believe quite often we get caught up in different methods of searching for the purpose of life, our purpose, or the meaning of life. Yet the majority of my most "profound" answers have come when I am "keeping it simple", and not letting all the struggles, methods, controversies, and "life" bog me down.

The Four Noble Truths

1. THE EXISTENCE OF IMPERMANENCE-"Dukkha"

  Nothing lasts forever. When you understand this it makes it easier to not be so attached to what you're experiencing. So when you're experiencing something you think is bad, you can relax in the knowledge that nothing bad lasts forever. Similarly, when you're experiencing happiness you can also realize that nothing good lasts forever. Why would you want to do that? Because it helps you to be more aware of how you're reacting to your experiences at all times. 

  The First Noble Truth often is translated as "Life is suffering."  But the Pali word dukkha also refers to anything that is temporary, conditional, or compounded of other things. Even something precious and enjoyable is dukkha, because it will end. Related to the nature of life is the nature of self. Are we not also temporary, conditional and compounded of many parts? We can understand that life is impermanent but are we, also, impermanent? The Buddha taught that before we can understand life and death we must understand the self. I might also add that this first truth can often times take years and years of practice before fully understanding.

2. THE ARISING OF SUFFERING BECAUSE OF CRAVING -"Samudaya"

  Craving sensory stimulation, craving existence, and craving non-existence give rise to the "continuity of being" (the tendency to confuse reality with your perception of reality), and with it its attendant suffering. Say you want something and you don't get it--you'd get sad or frustrated. But say you want something and you do get it. Eventually you'll get bored with it and you'll start wanting something else. And so you start all over again. We continually search for something outside ourselves to make us happy. But no matter how successful we are, we never remain satisfied. The Buddha taught that this thirst grows from ignorance of the self. We go through life grabbing one thing after another to get a sense of security about ourselves. We attach not only to physical things, but also to ideas and opinions about ourselves and the world around us. Then we grow frustrated when the world doesn't behave the way we think it should and our lives don't conform to our expectations.

3. THE CESSATION OF SUFFERING-"Nirodha"

  You can end eternal suffering by ending the craving that leads to the continuation of suffering. Remember that suffering is caused by endlessly wanting what you can't have. So if you can stop this endless wanting, you won't suffer anymore. That's not to say that you won't ever feel pained or sad (or happy or ecstatic) ever again. It's just that it won't be part of an endless cycle of wanting--not getting--being sad--wanting again. The Buddha taught that through diligent practice, we can put an end to craving. Ending the hamster-wheel chase after satisfaction is enlightenment (bodhi, "awakened"). The enlightened being exists in a state called Nirvana.

4. THE MIDDLE WAY, or THE NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH - "Magga"

  So how do you end eternal craving? Just live by the ideals of the Noble Eightfold Path. The Path is grounded in a program of meditation. It delineates a plan of self-discipline regarding ethical conduct, mental discipline, and wisdom. The Path avoids two extremes--the pursuit of complete and ultimate sensory pleasure, or the pursuit of utter self-denial. Here the Buddha as physician prescribes the treatment for our illness: The Eightfold Path. Unlike in many other religions, in Buddhism there is no particular benefit to merely believing in a doctrine. Instead, the emphasis is on living the doctrine and walking the path.

  In summary, if one walks the Eightfold Path, one understands the Four Noble Truths, is more enlightened, and may achieve Nirvana. I need to keep things simple and avoid all the chaos of methodology and different practices, how to's, and just stick with what gets me focused, and what helps me achieve a higher level of enlightenment of my purpose and who I am.

Thank you once again for the opportunity to share my thoughts.

Peace and happiness to you.

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