1. THE FOURFOLD NOBLE TRUTH
1. The world id full of suffering. Birth is suffering, old agd is
suffering. sickness and death are sufferings. A man full of hatred is
suffering, to be separated from a beloved one is suffering, to be
vainly struggling to satisfy one's needs is fuffering. In fact, life that is
not free from desire and passion is always involved with distress.
This is called the Truth of Suffering.
The cause of human suffering is undoubtedly found in the
thirsts of the physical body and in the illussions of worldly passion. If
these thirsts and illusions are traced to their source, they are found to
be rooted in the intense desires of physical instincts.
Thus, desire, having a strong will-to-live as its basis, seeks that
which it feeds desireable, even if it is sometimes death. This is called
the Truth of the Cause of suffering.
If desire, which lies at the root of all human passion, can be
removed, then passion will die out and all human suffering will be
ended. This is called the Truth of the Termination of Suffering.
In order to enter into a state where there is no desire and no
suffering, one must follow a certain Path. The stages of this Noble
Path are: - Rigt View, Right Thought, ight Speech, Right
Behavior, Rigth Liveligood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and
Right Concentration. This is called the Truth of the Noble Path to
the Termination of Desire.
People should keep these Truths clearly in mind, for the world
is filled with suffering and if anyone wishes to escape from suffering,
they must sever the ties of worldly passion which are the sole causes
of suffering. The way of life which is free from all worldly passion
and suffering can only be known through Enlightenment, and
Enlightenment can only be attained through the disciplin of the
Noble Path.
2. All those who are seeking Enligthenment must understand
this Fourfold Noble truth. Without understanding this, they will
wander about interminably in the bewildering maze of life's illusions.
Those who understand the Fourfold Noble Truth are called "the
peaple who have acquired the eyes of Enlightenment."
Therefore, those who wish to follow the Buddha's teachings
should concentrate their minds on this Fourfold Noble Truth and
seek to make their understanding of its meaning clear. In all ages, a
saint, if he is a true saint, is one who understands It and teaches It to
others.
When a man clearly understands the Fourfold Noble Truth,
then the Noble Path will lead him away from greed: and if he is free
from greed he will not quarrel with the world, he will not kill, not
steal, not commit adultery, not cheat, not abuse, not flatter, not
envy, not lose his temper, not forget the transiency of life nor will he
be unjust.
3. Following the Noble Path is like entering a dark room with a
light in the hand: the darkness will all by cleared away, and the room
will be filled with light.
Peaple woh unerstand the meaning of the Noble Truths and
have learned to follow the Noble Path are in possession of the light
of wisdom that will clear away the darkness of ignorance.
Buddha leads people, mereely by indicating to them the Fourfold
Noble Truth. Those who understand It properly will attain
Enlightenment: It will be able to guide and support others in this
bewilering world, and It will be worthy of truth. hen the
Fourfold Noble Truth is clearly understood, all the sources of worldly
passion are dried up.
Advancing from this Fourfold Noble Truth, the disciples of
Buddha will attain alll other precious truths: they will gain the
wisdom and piety to understand all meanings, and will become
capable of preaching the Dharma to all the peoples of the world.