THE FIRST NOBLE TRUTH:
Life is suffering or 'dukkha'.
This tends to make people think Buddhism is a negative, pessimistic faith, but that isn't so. This simply states that in our lives, we suffer. The Buddha did not mean everything in our lives is suffering. There is alot of good. But, we do suffer. We need to recognize this and acknowledge it. You will sense something is wrong but you can't pin it down. You need to decide whether the suffering is physical, pyschological or physiological. When you identify the suffering you must look deeply into it - embrace it. You must understand its true nature. Here, both sitting and walking meditation come in and are indispenable. Look for and get support from your sangha - your family, friends, your teacher(s). You will eventually understand your suffering. Believe it or not, once this happens, you are filled with happiness and joy. You know what the problem is. Now you can work on it! Remember, suffering is holy if we can embrace it and look deeply into it.
THE SECOND NOBLE TRUTH:
The cause of our suffering is attachments, its origins, nature, creation and arising.
Okay, you have recognized suffering for what it is. Now look deeply into it to see its causes and its true nature. Ask yourself, what is feeding this suffering? Until one can practice the Second Noble Truth, ones still tends to blame others for their suffering. But as you look deeply you can see that 'true' happiness is possible if you stop looking towards attachments, ignorance, etc. that lead to and cause your suffering. We need to really encourage ourselves to stop the causes of suffering. We need strong intention. If we're mindful, we will have the energy. With mindfulness you can see the nature of suffering and the way out. This is why the Buddha called suffering a holy truth. You learn ways to help face the suffering like mindful walking, breathing, sitting, eating, looking listening...When you are mindful the Four Noble Truths are in action! You promise to and actually stop taking in the causes of your suffering. You want to do what is fully in accord with being mindful. This does not mean you stop living, though. You still eat, sleep, etc. You just don't do anything to cause yourself or others harm. When you can do this you are free! You can come and go as you please. Suffering doesn't arise. This action is really non-action. You can't imitate this. This is authentic and real. You must reach this stage of realization of your own accord.
THE THIRD NOBLE TRUTH:
The cessation of suffering is by refraining from doing things that lead to suffering in the first place. To put it simply, there is a cessation to suffering.
Now you are no longer suffering. In the absence of suffering there is the presence of true joy. You realize total well-being is possible. You encourage yourself more and more to find peace and joy. You realize there are so many miracles here on earth. Just being here is a miracle! This human life is so very precious! Even mundane things like cleaning the house, washing the dishes, taking out the garbage, is a miracle. You stop suffering by realizing it isn't worth suffering for. Nothing is permament. Everything, like emotions, eventually passes. That's why suicide is so sad. It's not worth taking your precious human life over an emotion that is not permanent. Now joy, like suffering, is impermanent. But, you learn to grow and cultivate joy instead. If you keep encouraging yourself you reach a point where you realize suffering and happiness are not two, but rather one! Your joy is no longer something fragile and delicate. It is true joy!
THE FOURTH NOBLE TRUTH:
The end to suffering is the Eightfold Path.
You realize the way out of suffering is the Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Thinking, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration. But you are probaby unsure of how to practice, but you do realize it leads to the cessation of suffering. So, you encourage yourself to practice the path. As you learn, be open, reflective and always practicing. If your learning is not followed by reflecting and practicing, it isn't true learning. You should be able to see following the Path has everything to do with one's difficulties in life. Many people are awakened to this during a difficult period. That is true in my case. Remember, transformation doesn't happen overnight - it's gradual. When you can clearly see the causes of suffering you can make the effort to change your behavior and bring the suffering to an end. Finally, you realize you are practicing the Eightfold Path. You understand things as they truly are. It emerges from our life and our practice. Can you see the interbeing of the Four Noble Truths? You will also see the interbeing if the Eightfold Path. Now you can see that suffering is necessary to see the Eightfold Path. You can see how it is holy. The Buddha said, "The moment you know how your suffering came to be, you are already on the path of release from it."
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