THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

INTRODUCTION

The teachings on the four noble

truths are among the very first of many teachings

of Buddha.

These teachings are known to contain the

essence of the Buddhist path,

regardless of the tradition one

follows.

According to the Buddha, whatever life we lead, it has the nature of some aspect of suffering.

Even if we consider ourselves happy for a while, this happiness is momentary by nature.

This means that at best, we can only find temporary happiness and pleasure in life.

SO, WHAT ARE THESE

4 NOBLE TRUTHS

LET’S CLARIFY SOME TERMINOLOGIES

OF THE NOBLE TRUTHS

Western Sources Eastern Text

Suffering Dukkha

Suffering has a CAUSE Samudaya

(The “cause” or the “origin”)

Cessation of Suffering Nirodha

Path leading to the Cessation of Suffering

Magga

THEY BASICALLY POINT TO THE SAME IDEAOF THE TEACHINGS OF BUDDHA

Suffe

ring

Caus

e of

Su

fferin

g

Cess

atio

n

of

Suffe

ring

Path

lead

ing

to

Cess

atio

n of

suffe

ring

BUDDHISM AND ITS TEACHINGS

The Buddha is often compared to

a Physician.

Why?

In the first 2 noble truths he diagnosed

the problem (suffering) and

identified the cause (cause of suffering).

The third noble truth is the realization that

there is a cure.

The fourth noble truth is the prescription on

how to release ourselves from the

problem.

INTRODUCTION DONE

GUYS!

ANY CLARIFICATION/QUESTIONS?

Naughty studentsMake you suffer

YES! They sure do

BEFORE WE START, LET’S LISTEN TO THIS

VIDEOS\MICHAEL JACKSON - HEAL THE WORLD.MP4

THE FIRST NOBLE TRUTH

“SUFFERING”

OR

DUKKHA

WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD

“SUFFERING”

WHAT COMES INTO YOUR MIND?

The obvious physical and mental suffering is associated with:

Birth

Illness

Growing old

Dying

DUKKHA SUFFERING

In modern literature, the Buddhist idea of what dukkha means is like

this

However, "suffering" is an inadequate translation of the word "Dukkha", but it is the one most commonly found, lacking

a better word in English.

WHAT IS DUKKA

Dukkha (In pali language)

SUFFERING

INTOLERABLE

UNSUSTAINABLE

DIFFICULT TO ENDURE

IMPERFECT

UNSATISFYINGINCAPABLE OF GIVING HAPPINESS

STRESS

A basic unsatisfactoriness

(Dukkha) pervades all

forms of existence, due to the fact that all forms of life are

changing, impermanent and without any inner core or substance.

That suffering/Dukkha(anxiety or stress and others)

comes from trying to hold onto things that are constantly

changing.

The essence of life is suffering, said the Buddha.

At first glance this seems exceedingly morbid and pessimistic.

However, contemporary Buddhist teachers and translators emphasize that the central message of

Buddhism is optimistic.But!

Buddhist view of our situation in life (the conditions that we live in) is neither pessimistic

nor optimistic, but realistic.

Suffering comes in many forms. Three obvious kinds of suffering correspond to the first three

sights the Buddha saw on his first journey outside his palace:

But according to the Buddha, the problem of suffering goes much deeper. Life is not ideal:

it frequently fails to live up to our expectations.

Human beings are subject to desires and cravings, but even when we are

able to satisfy these desires, the satisfaction is only

temporary.

Pleasure does not last; or if it does, it becomes monotonous.

Even when we are not suffering from

outward causes like illness or

bereavement, we are unfulfilled,

unsatisfied. This is the truth of suffering.

IN CLOSING ABOUT DUKKHA

The emphasis on Dukkha is not intended to present a pessimistic view of life, but rather to present a realistic

practical assessment of the human condition—

that all beings must experience suffering and pain at some point in their lives, including the inevitable sufferings of illness, aging, and death.

SHORT ACTIVITY

AND

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