The Four Noble Truths

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THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

"Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it. Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held. Believe nothing just because it is said in ancient books. Believe nothing just because it is said to be of divine origin. Believe nothing just because someone else believes it. Believe only what you your self test and judge to be true."

-Buddha

The four noble truths exemplify the essence of the teachings of Buddha. They represent the beginning of a long journey to inner peace, happiness, and most importantly an end to suffering. Seven weeks after the Buddha reached enlightenment at a place called Sarnath, in India, he gave his first teaching. This is referred to as setting the wheel of Dharma in motion. (Rahula 27). It was here where Buddha first spoke of the 4 noble truths and solidified them as eternal parts of life.

The four noble truths were presented as follows.

The First Noble Truth is suffering or dukkha. This includes physical, emotional and mental forms of suffering but can also be interpreted more widely as a feeling of ‘dissatisfaction'. (Hanh 43)

The Second Noble Truth points to the origin of suffering, namely craving or tanha (literally ‘thirst'). At its most simple, this relates to our constant craving for what is pleasurable in what we see, hear, smell, taste, touch and think. (Hanh 44)

The Third Noble Truth is the extinction of suffering. It refers to Nibbana in which craving has faded completely and thereby suffering too. (Hanh 45)

The Fourth Noble Truth leads to the end of suffering and provides a practical pathway to the realization of Nibbana in the form of the Noble Eightfold Path. This consists of eight factors: right understanding, right thought,...

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...fter. Its emphasis on inner peace and understanding is what separates it from most other faiths. In Buddhism you don't need a god to answer your questions about life and faith. Once you have canceled out the suffering in life, that all becomes clear to the believer.

I have struggled personally with trying to find my own inner peace through any form of faith. The world just seems so separated and people seem so unwilling to open up their minds and hearts to the ways of others. The Buddhist faith gives me great hope that someday others will catch on to its values and implement them into their own faiths. I can not call my self a Buddhist but I can call myself a supporter to that which will end world suffering and it all starts with understanding and eliminating that which makes the world so hard to live in.

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