Transcript The Four Noble Truths

The Four Noble Truths
The Buddha’s Analysis of the Human
Condition
1. The Truth of Suffering
Dukkha
 The Buddha understood that life is unsatisfactory
 Many different things in life cause suffering, the Buddha recognised that
it occurs on 3 levels
Ordinary suffering:- pain, grief, lamentation, old age, birth, not getting
what we want and death
Suffering of Change:- these are things that are beyond our control due to
the impermanent nature of all things. Even happiness causes dukkha
because it is not going to last. This form of suffering includes the
changes in ourselves that we are not able to control
The Suffering of Conditioned existence:- this is not as easy to
understand as the other forms but it generally refers to the limitations of
being human. No matter how hard we try in life it all comes to an end at
death, this is unavoidable. We have no control over the future and this
can cause anxiety, fear; we may not be the best no matter how hard we
try.
2. The Cause of Suffering
Tanha (craving)
 The cause of suffering is tanha translated as thirsting
or craving
 Attachment to impermanent things and the inability to
see their true nature causes dukkha
 Material objects, experiences, feelings and our own
self are the objects of our desire
 Due to the nature of all things they will pass and this
will cause suffering
 Trying to hold on to them causes dukkha
 When they go we suffer
3. The Truth of the Cessation of Suffering
 It is possible to be free from suffering
 To do this one must free themselves from greed and
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attachment
Seeing the true nature of reality and understanding
that all things without exception will come to an end is
essential
We must become selfless
We must act for the sake of others and develop
compassion
We must get rid of the three poisons
4. The Truth of the Path Leading to the Cessation of
Suffering.
 The Noble Eight Fold Path
 The Noble Eight Fold path is the means to end
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suffering and the causes of suffering
The middle way- a life between the two extremes that
the Buddha experienced
a life devoid of indulgence
The Buddha’s experience was the luxury of life in the
palace, over indulgence in sensory pleasure
Self mortification, ascetic life in the forest
The knowledge of the path must be applied and
practiced to change attitudes and behaviour
Question
 How was the Buddha affected by the Four
Sight?
 How do the Four Sights relate to the
teachings of the Four Noble Truths?