The Path Through A Twenty First Century Lens

The significance of the Buddhist teachings has impacted the everyday lives of Buddhist adherents as it provides a set of guidance, in which the goal of individuals is to improve themselves through effort and ultimately reach Nirvana, enlightenment. Through the Four Noble truths; The existence of Dukkha (Suffering),

The four noble truths of Buddhism take an important role in this religion. As it is called forth noble truths, it mainly divided in 4 parts: Dukkha, Samudaya, Nirodha, and the last part is the Magga. The four noble truth were discovered by Sakyamuni and it were also announced by him. (Tsering, 2010) the main purpose of the Four Noble Truth is to tell people that the world is full of suffering and the reason that the people suffer is because of human’s

Finally, the fourth Noble Truth is that a way exists through which this cessation can be brought about: the practice of the noble Eightfold Path. This combines ethical and disciplinary practices, training in concentration and meditation, and the development of enlightened wisdom, all thought to be necessary. if practiced diligently, it would lead to enlightenment.

The First Noble Truth observes that human existence is characterized by suffering. The Second Noble Truth states that suffering has origin. The Third Truth asserts that suffering, because it has an origin or cause, that it can be eliminated. Finally, the Fourth Truth tells that there is a path to

The first path consists of Samma ditthi, the right understanding of the Four Noble Truths. The second path is Sammas sankappa, the right thinking and following of the right path in life. The third path is called Samma vaca and this is the right speech meaning no lying, criticism, condemning, gossiping, or the use of harsh language. Samma kammanta is the fourth path which says the right conduct by following the Five Precepts. Samma ajiva which states the right livelihood to support yourself without harming others. Samma vayama is the right effect to promote good thoughts and conquer evil thoughts. Samma sati is the right mindfulness that one becomes aware of your body, mind and feelings. The eighth path would be Samma Samadhi which states the right concentration that one can meditate to achieve a higher state of consciousness.

In other words, Nirvana stands as the state in which suffering, desire, or sense of self does not exist, and leaves the subject released from karma. In the religion, the four noble truths recapitulates the philosophies of Buddhism in a formula: 1) the truth of suffering, 2) the truth of the cause of suffering, 3) the truth of the end of suffering, and 4) the truth of the path to the end of suffering. The four noble truths simplifies further to, “Do what is beneficial, avoid doing harm, and keep the mind pure.” (Hayes). Buddhism’s background and beliefs diverse from Judaism's in several ways.

Buddhism’s four noble truths are Buddha’s declaration of key discoveries of his quest to find enlightenment. The first noble truth is that all humans suffer, this is called dukkha. This philosophy came through to Buddha by realizing that all being try to achieve happiness and when they fail to succeed they suffer and thus life is full of suffering. People also suffer because of fear, fear of death, fear of sickness, fear of poverty. The second noble truth is what causes the suffering which is desire or also called tanha. Our desires are endless, people always want bigger and better things, and when our desires are not met we suffer because of it. The third noble truth is the cure or the prescription to the first two truths, it is called the eightfold path. The

The Buddha's teachings were based on the fact of that human existence is painful. It was also based on the ultimately dissatisfying character of human life with emphasis on finding a way to escape and attain perfection from the different lives. Buddhism also believes that the universe is a product of Karma. The Four Noble Truths are the truth of misery (dukkha), the truth that misery originates within the craving for pleasure and for being or nonbeing (samudaya), the truth that this craving can be eliminated (nirodhu), and the truth that this elimination is the result of following a methodical way or path (magga). There

The 4 Noble truths are the most basic teachings in Buddhism. The first of the 4 noble truths is that ordinary life brings about suffering. The second Noble truth tells us that the origin of suffering is attachment. In order to end suffering we have to stop craving. The third Noble truth is that suffering will end when your sense of craving is able to be overcome so you are able to achieve Nirvana. The forth Noble truth tells us about Eightfold Path and that if we follow it, we can end our suffering and achieve Nirvana. The Eighth Fold Pass features eight ideas that will help you achieve Nirvana if done correctly. The steps are “Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration.” These beliefs are the rules that all Buddhists follow to some extent.

In The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, Thich Nhat Hanh provides a citation from the Buddha, which gives insight into the cure of our distress. “I teach only suffering and the transformation of suffering” (Thich Nhat

The Buddha went in between to extremes to find the middle way. The middle way consists of the four noble truths and the eightfold path. The four noble truths are the most commonly shared belief between Buddhists. They are ways to eliminate desire, which will eliminate suffering. Number one says, “ life consists of suffering.” Number two says, “everything is impermanent and ever-changing, we suffer because we desire those things that are impermanent.” Number three says, “ the way to liberate oneself from suffering is to eliminate desire.” And number four says, “ desire can be eliminated by following the eightfold path.” The eightfold path is a group of statements, they are not sequential things, they are just attitudes and actions. The eightfold path consists of right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right live hood, right effort, right awareness and right meditation. By following these attitudes and actions, you can achieve a life without suffering#.

The Four Noble Truths contain the essence of the Buddha's teachings. It was these four principles that the Buddha came to understand during his meditation under the bodhi tree. The best way to explain the truth's are by using the doctors analogy, as the Buddha was viewed upon as a physician. In the first Noble Truth he diagnosed the problem and in the second the Buddha has identified its cause. The third Noble Truth is the realization that there is a cure. The fourth Noble Truth is the prescription, the way to get out of the suffering.

‘The Truth of the End of Suffering’ is the Third Noble Truth. Through diligent practice, we can extinguish desire and liberate oneself from attachment.

The Eightfold path is the treatment to cure all desires of the heart. Briefly, they are having the right attitudes towards life, in a Buddhist way. It consists of having the Right Knowledge, Right Aspiration, Right Speech, Right Behaviour, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Absorption. It is taught that Buddhism "is a way of living, not merely the theory of life, the treading of this Path is essential to self-deliverance" .

About 2,500 years ago, Prince Siddhartha Gautama renounced his empire in search of happiness or panacea for sorrow (dukkha) Gautama, after an extensive research throughout his empire and meditating on the collected data under a banyan tree,discovered that aspiration or want (kama) was at the root of sorrow (dukkha) laid down four noble truths to eliminate sorrow, and became the Buddha, the enlightened. Truths “Sanskriti, Mana. "The Four Noble." (1998).”