THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS Siddhartha Gautama the Buddha

THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha

The Four Stages l l “blissful stage of meditation” “beyond reasoning” “attentive & conscious, with equal mind to joy or aversion” “beyond pain & pleasure, with equal mind to joy and aversion”

THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS l l The Noble Truth of Pain l Birth, age, sickness, death, sorrow & despair are painful. The Noble Truth of the Cause of Pain l It is craving, which leads to rebirth, pleasure & passion, existence & nonexistence.

THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS l l The Noble Truth of the Cessation of Pain l It is the cessation of craving without remainder, forsaking detachment and release from it. The Noble Truth that of the Way that leads to the Cessation of Pain l It is the Noble Eightfold Path

The Noble Eightfold Path l Right Views l l Right Motive l l Gives aspiration to renunciation & benevolence Right Speech l l Give the knowledge of Pain, its Cause, Cessation & the Path Abstains from lies and slander Right Action l Abstains from stealing, killing & self-indulgence.

The Noble Eightfold Path l Right Livelihood l l Right Effort l l Turns against evil states and towards good Right Mindfulness l l Follows right pursuits Looks on mind & body with self-control Right Contemplation l Rises above evil and abides in equanimity & bliss

“I have found the deathless and teach the truth …” l Why is the body not the soul? l l Because it is subject to sickness It is the same with the feelings, perception, elements & consciousness. l Because they are impermanent & painful

The Buddha does not a teach a dogma to follow … l The religious life does not depend on dogmas concerning whether the world is or is not eternal. Or finite – or infinite. Why not? l l l Because birth, old age, death, sorrow, lamentation, misery and despair still exist. These are what the Buddha is addressing. “Bear in mind what I have not explained and what I have explained. ” l The questions you ask lead away from the path.