The 4 Noble Truths

The 4 Noble Truths 

1) Dukkha - The truth of suffering 

2) Samudaya - The truth of the cause of suffering

3) Nirodha - The truth of the cure to suffering

4) Magga - The truth of the end of suffering

Dukkha - The existence of suffering

There are 4 unavoidable types of suffering:

• Birth
• Illness
• Old age 
• Death

You will experience these many times due to reincarnation

Mental suffering 

• Separation from some one/thing
• Contact with some one/thing you do not like
• Not being able to fulfil your desires  

Suffering and happiness

Happiness exists however, Buddhists needs to realise that it is impermenant and that it will NOT last (anicca)

Therefore when you try to solve your problems with temporary pleasureseg. chocolate 

It does NOT help and is not ideal 

The first step of trying to prevent yourself from experiencing suffering is to accept the 1st Noble Truth - suffering exists will continue to exist

Samudaya - The cause of suffering 

The cause is craving and there are 3 types 

• Craving things that please the sense - eg. chocolate 
• Craving to be something you are not - eg. rich
• Craving not to be - eg. not to be in pain 

Suffering and the 3 poisons

The 3 poison are: greed, hatred and ignorance 

They sit in the middle of the wheel of samsara (the wheel of life, illness, old age, death and rebirth) and keep it spinning . They trap humans in this endless cycle 

In order to stop suffering humans have to get rid of craving

Craving is rooted in the ignorance of people, ignorance of the world and ignorance of the nature of reality 

In order to reach enlightenment, you need to overcome it and find wisdom  

Nirodha - The truth of the end of suffering

It is possible to overcome suffering but it is impossible to get rid of it entirely as it is an unavoidable part of life  

To overcome this craving to need to have an outward appreciation for life and be grateful for what you have now 

Nibbana and enlightenment 

Nibbana - the snuffing out of a flame 

The flames are The 3 Poisons which are sometimes referred to The 3 Flames. After enlightenment you are totally free of them

Bodhi - knowing 

A Buddha (person who has acheived enlightenment) is a person who knows the truth because you have to know the truth of reality before they achieve enlightenment. 

A Buddha would have no expectation of permenance and would naturally behave according to the 5 Moral Precepts 

Magga - The cure for suffering

The cure is a series of practices for Buddhists to end their suffering 

It is called the Middle Way or the Eightfold Path 

Ethics (Sila)

1. Right speech - no lying or gossiping

2. Right action - no harming others or overindulging in sensual pleasures

3. Right livelihood - earning money in an ethical and morally right way

Mediataion

4. Right effort - putting effort into mediatation and positive thinking

5. Right mindfulness - becoming fully aware of yourself and your feelings

6. Right concnetration - developing the mental focus needed for meditation

The last 2 will be on the next card 

Wisdom - Panna 

7. Right understanding - understanding all of the Buddha's teaching (the Dharma) especially the 4 Noble Truths

8. Right intention - having a positive outlook on life 

These "steps" don't need to be completed in a specific order. 

All of them reinforce each other - eg. if you have a right livelihood then you are also having right action as you aren't doing anything that causes anyone else harm.