4 Noble Truths

• Dukkha: Truth of Suffering

• Samudaya: Truth of the Cause of Suffering

• Nirodha: Truth of the End of Suffering

• Magga: Truth of the Path

Dukkha

• The Truth of Suffering– Life is full of sickness and

unhappiness

– All pleasures are fleeting (short-lived)

Samudaya

• The Truth of the Cause of Suffering

– 1 simple reason for suffering

•Desire–It is never satisfied

Nirodha

• The End of Suffering

–Becoming aware of those desires so they can be stopped

Magga: The Eightfold Path

• Right Understanding: Work to understand how your mind works

• Right Thought: Think kindly and avoid dwelling on past or future

• Right Speech: Speak kindly and truthfully• Right Action: Act kindly towards all living

things – acting properly is more important than the results of the actions

Magga (cont’d)

• Right work: Choose a line of work that does not harm others

• Right effort: Be determined to cleanse the mind of attachment to material things

• Right mindfulness: Pay attention to what you are doing,with a concern for others

• Right Concentration: meditation,or focus on one thing intensely (wholesome thought)

Buddhism and the Afterlife

• Buddhism originated from Hinduism, so the basic doctrine includes reincarnation based on karma

• Many practicing Buddhists de-emphasize the notion of the afterlife

• The concept of hell is transitory (temporary)