pkssss cy2010 level: j4 lesson 6: the four noble truths: (i) suffering - chapter 9: the four noble...

PKSSSS CY2010 Level: J4Lesson 6: The Four Noble Truths: (I) Suffering

- Chapter 9: The Four Noble Truths: (I) Suffering

The Four Noble Truths: (I) Suffering - The First Sermon – The Four Noble Truths

• First sermon to five ascetics, the Buddha spoke of the Four Noble Truths.

• They are:– The Truth of Suffering– The Truth of the Cause of Suffering– The Truth of the End of Suffering– The Truth of the Path leading to the End of

Suffering

• The Four Noble Truths sum up the Buddha experienced and realized about the nature of life and how he found a solution to end suffering in life.

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The Four Noble Truths: (I) Suffering

- The Truth of Suffering• The Buddha’s found the

solution to the problem of suffering began with the recognition that life is suffering.

• This is the first Noble Truth.

• People will see that life is suffering when they look into their experiences or around them.

• Suffering may be physical or mental.

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The Four Noble Truths: (I) Suffering

- Physical Suffering• There are four forms of physical suffering

which is unavoidable:– Birth

– Sickness

– Old age

– Death

• Suffering must be borne alone as there is no other person can help to take away the suffering– Example: Mother cannot experience the

pains of illness for her child

• The Buddha taught us to recognize that suffering is part of life and cannot be avoided.

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The Four Noble Truths: (I) Suffering

- Story of Kisa Gotami• Kisa Gotami was a young woman from a well

to do family.

• One day, her only son fell sick and suddenly died.

• She was very sad and bring the dead child around to ask for a medicine to cure him.

• She met the Buddha and the Buddha asked her to get five mustard seeds from any family which had never experienced death.

• She went from household to household and finally realized that the Buddha wanted her to find out herself that death comes to all.

• She finally accepted the facts and become the Buddha followers.

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The Four Noble Truths: (I) Suffering

- Mental Suffering

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• There are three forms of mental suffering:– Do you know what are they?

• Being separated from the people one likes or loves

• Being together with people one dislikes

• Not getting what one wants

• Example: – Can you give me an example?– Child may feel very upset when parents

do not allow them to play computer games.

The Four Noble Truths: (I) Suffering

- Happiness in Life • Are there happiness in life?– Happiness of parents love– Happiness of friendship– Happiness of having a healthy body

• The Buddha taught people to be aware that all forms of worldly happiness are impermanent.

• People should not be attached to (or distracted by) these temporary pleasures, otherwise they suffer when these are gone.

• The truths of suffering must first be recognized before the solution to the end of suffering can be found.

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Summary

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• Suffering is a fact of life.

• There are four forms of physical suffering which is unavoidable, namely birth, sickness, old age and death.

• There are three forms of mental suffering namely– Being separated from the people one likes or loves– Being together with people one dislikes– Not getting what one wants

• The truths of suffering must first be recognized before the solution to the real problems of life can be found.

BIRTH Final Nirvana

EnlightenmentRenunciationGrowing Up & Four Encounters

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