The Four Noble Truths

The first Truth deals with Dukkha, which for need of better English equivalent, is inappropriately rendered by suffering. As a feeling Dukkha means that which is difficult to be endured (DU - difficult, Kha - to endure). Here Dukkha is used in the sense of contemptible (Du) emptiness (Kha). The world rests on suffering (Dukkhe loko palitthito) - hence it is contemptible. It is devoid of any reality - hence it is empty or void.

Average men are only surface-seers. An Ariyan sees things as they truly are. To one who sees, there is no real happiness in sorrowful world which deceives mankind with illusory pleasures. What we call happiness is merely the gratification of some desire. "No sooner is the desired thing gained then it begins to be scorned." Insatiate are all desires.

All are subjected to birth - jati, and consequently to decay - jara, disease - vyadhi, and death - marana. No one is exempt from these four causes of suffering. Impeded wish is also suffering. We do not wish to come in contact with persons or things we do not like, nor do we wish to be separated from persons or things we like most. But our wishes are not always fulfilled. What we least desire is often trust on us. At times such unpleasant circumstances become so intolerable and painful that weak ignorant folks are compelled to put an end to their lives.

In brief, this body itself is the cause of suffering. Buddhism rests on this pivot of suffering. But it does not allow that Buddhism is pessimism. It is neither totally pessimistic nor totally optimistic. On the contrary it teaches a truth of suffering, the Buddha suggested a means to get rid of this suffering and gain the Highest Happiness.

The cause of this suffering is Craving, which is the second Noble Truth.

The Dhammapada states :-
"From craving springs grief,
from craving springs fear,
For him who wholly free from craving,
there is no grief, whence fear ?"

Suffering exists as long as there is craving or attachment - Tanha. There are three kinds of cravings.The first is the grossest form of craving which is simple attachment to all sensual pleasures - Kamatanha. The second is attachment to pleasures connected with the view of Eternalism - Bhavatanha, the third is that which is connected with the view Nihilism - Vibhavatanha. It is this gross and subtle craving that leads to repeated births in Samsara and that which makes one clings to all forms of life. This craving is so powerful a force that one has to summon eight equally powerful forces (the Eightfold path) to overpower this one single foe. The grossest form of craving are first weakened on attaining Sakadagami and are eradicated on attaining Anagami. The subtle forms of craving are eradicated only on attaining Arahantship.

The third Noble Truth is the complete Cessation of suffering which is nibbana, the Bliss Supreme. It is achieved by the total eradication of all forms of craving.

The fourth Noble Truth is the Path leading to the Cessation of suffering, which is the Noble Eightfold Path, via the media - the golden mean - of the Buddha.