3.2.3 The Four Noble Truths

An introduction:

The Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths to Buddhists.

We will get to them in a bit.... However, because of these teachings, many see the Buddha fulfilling the same role that a doctor does:

1. The doctor tells us what is wrong with us – the diagnosis
2. The doctor then tells us the reasons why we got poorly
3. The doctor then reassures us and tells us that there is a cure for our illness
4. The doctor then gives us the medicine for us to get better – the prescription

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The Four Noble Truths are said to be at the heart of the Buddha's teachings

They were discovered by the Buddha while he searched for enlightenment under the Bodhi tree They were also the first teachings that he gave the five ascetics during his first sermon at Deer Park in Sarnath.

5. The truth of suffering – dukkha
6. The truth of the cause of suffering – Samudaya
7. The truth of the end of suffering – Nirodha
8. The truth of the path of the end of suffering – Magga

The first Noble Truth – The Buddha tells us what is wrong with us – his diagnosis

The second Noble Truth – The Buddha tells us why we are poorly The third Noble Truth – The Buddha reassures us and tells us that there is a cure The fourth Noble Truth – The Buddha gives us the medicine for is to get better – the prescription

Another way of thinking about these four truths is to say that:

9. Suffering exists
10. Suffering is caused by something
11. Suffering can end
12. There is a way to bring about the end of suffering

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1. What is the first noble truth?

• The Buddha taught there are four unavoidable types of physical suffering: birth, old age, sickness and death
• The Buddha also taught that there are three main forms of mental suffering: separation from someone or something you love; contact with someone or something you dislike; and not being able to achieve or fulfil your desires

"Now this, [monks], is the noble truth of suffering: birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, death is suffering; union with what is displeasing is suffering; separation from what is pleasing is suffering; not to get what one wants is suffering; in brief, the five aggregates subject to clinging are suffering" - The Buddha in the Samyutta Nikaya, vol.5 P. 421

Even though the Buddha taught that it is important to recognise that suffering is a part of life, he did not deny that happiness exists. However, the Buddha taught that even though happiness is real, it is impermanent – it will not last and will therefore eventually give way to unhappiness.

Many people try to combat suffering with temporary pleasures – for example, you fall out with a friend so you eat a chocolate bar to cheer yourself up, but the happiness that the chocolate creates only lasts until you get to the end of the bar. It does not solve the root cause of your unhappiness.

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2. What is the second noble truth?

The Buddha taught that one of the main causes of suffering is tanha which means 'thirst' or 'craving'. This refers to wanting or desiring things. The Buddha said that there are three main types of craving:

13. Craving things that please the senses, such as beautiful sights or pleasant smells. One example is drinking a hot chocolate not because you are thirsty, but because you like the taste of it
14. Craving to become something that you are not, such as craving to become rich or famous
15. Craving not to be, or craving non-existence. This refers to when you want to get rid of something or stop it from happening any more, such as not wanting to feel embarrassed after making a mistake, or not wanting to feel pain after twisting an ankle. At the centre of the Tibetan Wheel of Life there are usually three animals that represent three different tendencies:

• A pig – represents ignorance
• A cockerel – represents greed and desire
• A snake – represents anger and hatred

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The three poisons:

These are called the three poisons in Buddhism because they are considered to be the forces that keep the wheel spinning, and the cycle of samsara turning.

• The Buddha taught that craving is rooted in ignorance – this is not the sort of ignorance related to not knowing the location of a country or not knowing how to speak a language, but a deeper ignorance about people, the world and the nature of reality.
• Buddhists believe they will only achieve enlightenment by overcoming ignorance and finding wisdom.
• The Buddha also taught that craving leads to greed and hatred It is these three poisons that trap humans in the cycle if samsara and prevent them from reaching nibbana.

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3. The third noble truth

• The third noble truth (nirodha) is that there is an end to suffering
• This means that Buddhism teaches that it is possible to end a person's suffering through their own action and efforts – which eventually will lead to enlightenment
• The third noble truth is important because it teaches that it is possible to achieve happiness and it is possible to overcome suffering
• The Buddha taught that when people desire things but don't get them, they become frustrated and unhappy with life
• So they have to let go of this craving in order to stop feeling dissatisfied with life
• The Buddha taught that people should enjoy and take pleasure in things but recognise that they can't last The Buddha also taught that the way to stop craving is to have an inner satisfaction with life and a total appreciation of what one has already got

The third noble truth, therefore, teaches that it is possible to end suffering, and that thus can be achieved by overcoming ignorance and craving

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4. What is the fourth noble truth?

The Eightfold Path consists of the following eight practices, which are grouped into three sections that make up the threefold way:

Wisdom (panna)

1. Right understanding: understanding the Buddha's teachings, particularly about the Four Noble Truths.

2. Right intention: having the right approach and outlook to following the Eightfold Path; being determined to follow the Buddhist path with a genuine, honest attitude. Meditation (Samadhi):

3. Right effort: putting effort into meditation, in particular, thinking positively and freeing yourself from negative emotions and thoughts.

4. Right mindfulness: becoming fully aware of yourself and the world around you; having a clear sense of your own feelings and thoughts.

5. Right concentration: developing the mental concentration and focus that is required to meditate. Ethics (sila):

6. Right speech: speaking truthfully in a helpful, positive way; avoiding lying or gossiping about others.

7. Right action: behaving in a peaceful, ethical way; avoiding acts such as stealing, harming others, or overindulging in sensual pleasures.

8. Right livelihood: earning a living in a way that does not harm others, for example not doing work that exploits people or harms animals.