This is a continuation of my blogs on Buddhism. I wanted to discuss something that is more widely known in Buddhism. My previous blog discussed the Four Seals of Dharma. They were what Buddha realized that made him a Buddha and created Buddhism. After he became a Buddha, he realized four truths. In Buddhism we call these the Four Noble Truths.
The Four Noble Truths are:
I. Life is suffering.
II. The origins of suffering are selfish desire and attachment.
III. There is a way to stop suffering.
IV. This way is the Eightfold Path.
a) Right Understanding
b) Right Thinking
c) Right Speech
d) Right Attitude
e) Right Livelihood
f) Right Effort
g) Right Mindfulness
h) Right Concentration
Now let us discuss these in more detail. Most of our discussion will involve the Eightfold Path, but we will briefly go over the first three concepts.
LIFE IS SUFFERING. In my previous blog, I discussed how emotions are pain. If you haven't read it yet, please do so as I do not plan on repeating myself here. Emotions are a part of us. They are our reactions to the world. Life is a struggle. Whether a struggle to survive, to succeed or find something more; we struggle to achieve our goals. This struggle causes suffering. Since we struggle with life and our reactions to life (emotions) cause pain; life is suffering.
THE ORIGINS OF SUFFERING ARE SELFISH DESIRE AND ATTACHMENT. Desire causes suffering because we desire what we don't have. Once we obtain what we desire, we desire more. This creates a never ending cycle. Attachment causes suffering because once we achieve our desire, we become afraid of losing it and this creates worry, which is a form of suffering. So selfish desire and attachment cause suffering because we desire what we don't have, once we obtain our desire, we then become afraid of losing it and/or we also end up desiring more. So we cause our own suffering.
THERE IS A WAY TO STOP SUFFERING. Since we cause our own suffering, we can stop this same suffering.
THIS WAY IS THE EIGHTFOLD PATH. By understanding and following the Eightfold Path, we can stop our own suffering. The eight steps can be divided into three categories: wisdom, ethical/moral behavior and mental discipline. Right Understanding and Right Thought fall under wisdom. Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood fall under ethical/moral behavior. Right effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration, fall under mental discipline.
RIGHT UNDERSTANDING is also known as Right View. This concept means to keep ourselves free from prejudice, superstition and delusion. It involves understanding and having knowledge of what life is about; knowledge of the Four Noble Truths of suffering, of the origins of suffering, of the cessation of suffering and of the way leading to the cessation of suffering; and knowledge of the Buddha's teachings. This means a life long process of studying and learning.
RIGHT THOUGHT is also known as Right Intention. This concept means to turn away from the hypocrisies of this world and to direct our minds toward Truth and Positive Attitudes and Action. It involves the renunciation of and to be free of cravings. It involves good will and compassion, to be free from aversion and cruelty. It means a clear devotion to being on the path to enlightenment, which is the goal of ALL Buddhist.
RIGHT SPEECH. This concept means to refrain from pointless and harmful talk, to speak kindly and courteously to all. It involves abstaining from false, malicious, harsh and useless speech. In short, in involves clarity of what is said, taking care to just say what is meant and speaking kindly without malice.
RIGHT ATTITUDE is also known as Right Action, Right Conduct and Right Behavior. This concept means to see that our deeds are peaceable, benevolent, compassionate and pure and to live the Teachings daily. The outlines for Right Behavior are found in the Six Paramitas and the Five Precepts.
The Six Paramitas
1) I shall be helpful to others.
2) I shall follow the precepts of the Buddha.
3) I shall be patient and understanding.
4) I shall do my best in all things.
5) I shall meditate on the teachings of the Buddha.
6) I shall seek the light of wisdom.
The Five Precepts
1) I shall not harm living things.
2) I shall not take what does not belong to me.
3) I shall not behave sexually impure.
4) I shall not tell falsehoods.
5) I shall not take harmful foods or drinks.
RIGHT LIVELIHOOD. This concept means to earn our living in such a way as to entail no evil consequences. We are encouraged to seek employment where we can give our complete enthusiasm and devotion. It involves choosing an occupation that keeps an individual on the path. This is a path that promotes life and well being, rather than financial gain or that which is harmful to other living beings.
RIGHT EFFORT. This concept means to direct our efforts continually to the overcoming of ignorance and craving desires. It involves applying oneself conscientiously to the task ahead and to be awake and aware at every moment and to focus only on wholesome and useful states of mind. It means placing and keeping oneself on the path to enlightenment.
RIGHT MINDFULNESS. This concept means to cherish good and pure thoughts for all that we say and do arise from our thoughts. It involves mindful, contemplation of the body, of feelings of the mind and of mental objects. A basic Buddhist text, known as the Dhammapada, begins "All we are is the result of what we have thought, it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts."
RIGHT CONCENTRATION is sometimes known as Right Meditation. This concept means to concentrate on the Oneness of all life and the Buddhahood that exists within all beings. It involves focusing our mind on the Buddha (the teacher), on the Dharma (the teachings) and the Sangha (the community).
We are like the person who becomes ill due to a bad diet and destructive habits. We cling to our harmful actions and deny that there is any problem. We are sick but refuse to see it because we are so attached to our bad habits that we don't realize there is an alternative. The Four Noble Truths are the medicine. They help us to have a healthy mind and a noble spirit.