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Buddha's Teachings ( By Anthony Yeo ) The Four Noble Truths The Four Noble Truths 1) The Truth Of Suffering 2) The Truth Of The Cause Of Suffering 3) The Truth Of The End Of Suffering 4) The Truth Of The Path Leading To The End Of Suffering 1) Suffering The Buddha's discovered that the nature of life is suffering. If people examines the world around them or their own life, they will see that life is suffering. Suffering can be divided into two types -- Physical and Mental Suffering. Physical Suffering : Physical Suffering are cause by physical body and old age. When people grows old they suffer from aches and pain in their bones. They also find that life are very difficult because of their vission, hearing, etc. When babys come to the world they give pain to their mothers and themselves. The pain of death also bring suffering to oneself and family. This suffering must be borne alone, like a man can only concern about his wife and children but cannot take their place and suffer the pain when they are sick. As what the Buddha said Physical Suffering were unavoidable. For example suffering of birth, old age, sickness and death. The Buddha also said |
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that we have to recognised suffering even he Himself also could not avoided. Mental Suffering : Mental Suffering are cause by one's mind. When there was a death in a family, the family's members feel sad, lonely and depressed. Mental Suffering also forms when ones was force to seperate from one's love or contact with one's dislike. Children feel dejected when adults refuse to give them what they want. Adults may feel unhappy if they could not have power, wealth, etc. The Buddha did not deny that there is happiness in life. For example, happiness of people ones love, happiness of family life, happiness of wealth, etc. The Buddha said that all these were impermanent and when loses, ones suffers. People suffer because they enjoy the pleasures that do not last. Buddha taught people not to distracted by temporary pleasures and recognises that these do not last. 2) Cause Of Suffering Buddha said that before ones could end suffering in life, ones has to look for the cause of suffering first. Craving and Ignorance was the direct cause of suffering mention by the Buddha. Therefore to end suffering, ones must overcome all these. Craving : Craving arise because of ignorance. This is because people never satisfly of what they already own and wanting more. They do not know this is suffering. Children never satisfly of the toys they already have but want more and feel sad if they are stop. Restless and dissatisfly also cause suffering. For example, ones want to have more money and yet when they success they still not satisfly and find that it's still not enough and wanting more, so greed arises. Because of greed they will lie, cheat and steal to get what they want. If they are prevent , they feel angry and lead to quarrels, fights and even killings. All these cause suffering to oneself and others. Ignorance : Ignorance is the inability to see things as they really are. People ignorant because of their lack of understanding. When people are ignorant about the world they suffers from all kinds of mis-understanding. Buddha said developed of mind through studys, careful thought and practiced meditation inorder to gain wisdom and see the Truth of life and things. Then ones would understand the cause of suffering and the impermanence of life.When ones overcome craving and ignorance they will attain happiness and Enlightenment just like he Himself did. 3) End Of Suffering The Third Noble Truth of the Buddha's teaching was the end of suffering. People can experiences by themselves that if greed and anger arises in their minds, they feels unhappy. But when their greed and anger crease, their mind will become happy and peaceful. Therefore if people really want to remove suffering, they must remove desire, ill-will and ignorance. Happiness : The Buddha's Himself had experences happiness after He had attained Nirvana at the age of thirty-five. Buddha said that ones has to experence happiness by their own effect and no one can or may experience for them. Just liked a frog and a firsh, frog live on both land and water but fish does not. When the frog told the fish that creatures on land walk on hard but the firsh could not imagine how they walk rather than swim. Therefore the fish refused to believe what the frog said about the dry land. On the other hand, people may not experience the completely end of suffering and the Nirvana of happiness, but doesn't mean that end of suffering and truth happiness is not possible. |
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Enlightenment : When practice the Buddha's Teachings, people can also attain Enlightenment just like what the Buddha had did. Enlightenment is a perfect wisdom and great compassion. With perfect wisdom ones will understand the real nature of things. With great compassion ones will able to help others to overcome suffering. Nirvana : Nirvana means end of suffering. Nirvana cannot be put into words, just like hearing people saying that sweets are sweet. But need to eat it inorder to know what it taste like. Therefore Nirvana has to be experience by oneself inorder to know truth of happiness. 4) Path Leading To The End Of Suffering : Same as a doctor, the Buddha identified the cause of suffering and discovered the cure. He had put His teachings into a simple formula to helped people easily to understand and get rid of suffering. "The Noble Eightfold Path" The Eight factors of the Noble Eightfold Path are explain as follows : 1) Right Understanding : Clear understanding of things and see things as they really are. 2) Right Thought : Purifly the mind by avoiding craving, ill-will and cruelty. 3) Right Speach : Speach gently by keeping away from lying, back-biting and harsh words. 4) Right Action : Pure action without hurting, damaging, stealing, and avoid sexual misconduct. 5) Right Livelihood : A decent occuption that does not cause harm or injustice to others. 6) Right Effort : Use effort to avoid evil thoughts and do best in the good ways. 7) Right Mindfulness : Awareness of the nature of the mind, body and feeling and not to be distracted at all times. 8) Right Meditation : Meditation can help to steady and calm one's mind and to understand the reality of things. Meditation can help a scatter mind to concentrate, gain peace and realisation. ~~~~ Click 'Next' to continues "Buddha's Teachings" ~~~~ |
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