The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism
and Other Beliefs
Four
Noble Truths
A Buddhist Shrine
in Myanmar (Burma)
courtesy
Buddism
in Myanmar
1) Life is suffering. The very nature of human existence is inherently
painful. Because of the cyclical nature of death and rebirth (wheel of rebirth),
death does not bring an end to suffering. The wheel just keeps on turning,
we chase round and round getting to nowhere in the end.
2) Suffering has a cause: craving and attachment. Suffering is the
result of our selfish craving and clinging. This in turn reflects our ignorance
or reality.
3) Craving and attachment can be overcome. When one completely transcends
selfish craving, one enters the state of Nirvana and suffering ceases.
4) The path toward the cessation of craving and attachment is an Eightfold
path
1) Right understanding
2) Right purpose
3) Right speech
4) Right conduct
5) Right livelihood
6) Right effort
7) Right alertness
8) Right concentration
· Right can be replaced with "perfect" because there is
always room for improvement.
· Perfect vision / understanding: The first glimmerings of Perfect
Vision may arise spontaneously when one capture a glimpse by coincidence
or inspiration of the vast inter-connectedness of all living things.
· Right purpose / emotion: Seeing truth but not acting on it. For
eg: Smokers know that the cigarettes are killing them but cannot stop smoking.
· Right speech: Seeks to avoid unnecessary divisions between people.
In this world, to live is to be able to talk and right speech is chosen
because speech has a deep emotional impact on many.
· Right conduct / Perfect Action: In doing many things, Set of five
percepts which prevent us from: killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying
and intoxication.
· Right Livelihood / Perfect livelihood: Concerned about the transformation
not only of the individual but also the society as well.
· Right effort / Perfect Effort: To overcome habits, all it takes
is efforts.
· Right alertness / Perfect awareness: Glimpse of perfect vision
was an instance of greater awareness but which is easily lost.
Besides this, the Buddha also taught that the abiding self is illusory.
Physical forms, sensations, perceptions, psychic exertions, and even consciousness
itself-none yield an unchanging independent self. And the human tendency
to view the self as an independent, controlling entity is not merely a benign
delusion, but a significant barrier to spiritual progress.
