The Four Noble Truths | The Truths Of Transformation

Buddhism is a global religion or philosophy with many followers or believers. It has a long, rich history and a set of systematic beliefs. The theories are simple and very easy to apply. These theories evolve around the critical principles called the Four Noble Truths. This article attempts to explain the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path in detail and simpler.

From Siddhartha to Buddha; History and Birth of Buddhism

According to historical records, the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, was born in India. He was the son of a warrior king. The prince from childhood lived a very extravagant and lavished life from early age through early adulthood. He enjoyed all the privileges of his social caste. But soon, he found all the indulgences of the royal life boring.  Prince Siddhartha wondered if life had a different meaning and decided to search for a deeper understanding. The four pre-indications of old age, sicknesses, death, and the monk made him realise that life has more to it than just the lavished luxuries he has always experienced and enjoyed.  Prince Siddhartha was soon convinced that. He was deeply attracted to the monk, who looked serene and more peaceful.

Therefore, the prince decided to quit his royal life and look for an everlasting answer to end the suffering, which he noted was a lie to all existence. His attempts varied during his tenure to pursue the knowledge he sought. But he only reached his ambition in one go. Different philosophies and beliefs misled him. But he could pursue what he was looking for as Assetic Gauthama had a solid ambition to find this eternal truth. While meditating under the Asathu Bo tree, he understood how to be free from suffering. And he ultimately achieved his salvation. Through this epiphany, Asetic Gauthama was known as Buddha, the enlightened one. Gauthama Buddha spent the remaining years walking about India, teaching the noble truth and understanding he learnt through determination.  It was indeed a great mission. 

Four Noble Truths explained and unlocked the freedom

The four noble truths summarise Lord Buddha’s teachings. He taught what suffering is, its origin, its cessation, and the path to it. These four principles were what he understood during his meditation under the Bodhi tree. 

Dukkha – The truth of suffering

Samudāya – The truth of the origin of suffering

Nirodha – The truth of the ending of suffering

Magga – The truth of the path to ending suffering

The Gautama Buddha is like a physician who would cure the problems of the mind and soul. He could diagnose the problem and identify its cause and then prescribe the cure and how to get to that. All this is based on the four noble truths that are mentioned above. 

Nature of suffering or Dukkha in Buddhism

Suffering is an ordinary and universal experience for all living beings. If we are born into this world, we are bound to experience it in different forms. It might be small or insignificant, but the experience could be more pleasant. Some endure it for a lifetime. Buddhist teachings on suffering explain different types of Dukka or suffering. By learning about it, we can analyse the painful cycle we are entangled in. 

Here are some key learnings about Dukka that we can derive from the teachings of Buddha.

Dukka can be explained as suffering or interpreted as unsatisfaction, which is more applicable to modern society. It could be physical suffering, disappointment, unease, or inconvenience, and it could also mean struggle, grief, or death. Dukka comes in all these forms of suffering. 

There are three aspects of Dukka. It is the basis of the fundamentals of Buddhist teachings and describes the nature of all existence and beings. According to philosophy, delusions and ignorance are the characteristics that result in suffering. Sankara Dukks is the suffering of existence. Ankara anicca, or the impermanence of the ever-changing nature of all things, causes distress. Sankara anatta is the absence of permanence, which causes sadness when losing attachments. 

There are seven types of Dukkha: birth, old age, sickness, death, sorrow, lamentation, and despair. The teachings of Buddha explain all these well through examples. The story called the Jathaka explains the Noble Truth of Suffering well.

Unpacking the Cause of Suffering (Samudaya)

The second noble truth of Buddhism is the Samudaya or the cause of suffering. It is related to the concepts of tanha or greed. Also, it is interpreted as a craving as well. According to the Buddhist philosophy, there are three types of cravings. Pleasing the senses is the first. This means that most living beings have desires or cravings to please their senses, such as indulging in meals or buying lavish items. Etc. The next one is trying to be something or someone you are not. It takes great effort to achieve this. People love being famous, wealthy, or popular. The final is not to be, which means many people expect to gain something from getting rid of another. Usually, what we expect and love experiencing is not to feel pain after a fall. 

According to the Buddhist teachings, nothing is permanent. So, people should avoid getting too attached to any aspect of life. We should constantly remind ourselves that things change and nothing will remain the same. Many suffer when they get attached to things that happen through greed or thanha. The above three aspects are the most common reasons for increasing people’s desires and leading them to crave and achieve more. 

From Darkness to Dawn: End of Suffering (Nirodha)

The third noble truth is the state of  Nirodha, or ending the suffering. According to the teachings of Buddha, there is an end to suffering. We can obtain it only by following the correct path and through the right effort and right actions. Nirodha is a concept that is directly attached to the idea of Nibbana.  To stop craving, one should understand why the illusion of permanence cannot satisfy one’s needs. The end of suffering ends when you stop craving or develop Thanha. This is what the Buddhist teachings carry. 

Path to End Suffering (Magga); The Guiding Light to Overcoming Suffering

Magga, or ending suffering, is the last step in the four Nobel truths. Buddha taught us how to get rid of desires that cause suffering. Freeing yourself from all attachments that make you unhappy would help. The eightfold path is a solution that will help you deal with this.

• Right Understanding
• Right Intention
• Right Speech
• Right Action
• Right Livelihood
• Right Effort
• Right Mindfulness
• Right Concentration

According to Buddhist philosophy, the eightfold path helps a Buddhist follower reach the eternal truth or enlightenment if one practices it meaningfully and ends suffering. Karma, or intentional action, is more profound in this process. When one performs well, good will come to one. 

Also, Buddhism followers believe that this lifetime’s actions strongly impact the decision to have the next birth. Most followers of Buddhist Philosophy believe in this vital concept called rebirth. Wrong actions and evil intentions will grant you an unpleasant rebirth. 

In conclusion, understanding the four noble truths will help you lead a cheerful and satisfied life, eventually leading you to eternal bliss. The core principles of Buddhism explain the four noble truths that make anyone understand that we should spend a fruitful lifetime on earth. According to Buddhism, not everyone is lucky enough to be born as a human. It is a scarce chance you receive if you have performed merit in your previous birth. The Buddhists believe that our existence on earth is a never-ending cycle called the Sansara Charkra or the cycle of Samsara. 

FAQs

1. What are the Four Noble Truths?

In Buddhism, the four noble truths are critical concepts in guiding its believers towards eternal bliss or Nibbana: the truth of suffering, the truth that there is a reason for suffering, the truth of ending the suffering, and the truth of the path or method that leads to the end of suffering.

2. Why are the Four Noble Truths essential in Buddhism?

This concept acts more like a contingency plan to achieve Nibbana’s final goal.

3. What is the First Noble Truth (Dukkha)?

Dukkha refers to the pain, despair, or suffering of life. Though a person temporarily fulfils his desires, he might be undergoing an unavoidable physical, emotional, or mental trauma.

4. What is the Second Noble Truth (Samudaya)?

This is the Second Noble Truth.  It speaks about the root cause of suffering. Humans suffer because of cravings, greed, desire, or tanha. 

5. What is the Third Noble Truth (Nirodha)?

This is the Third Noble—Nirodha. It means the ending of suffering. According to Buddhist teachings, there is an end to suffering, and we can meet it through the right effort and the right actions. Nirodha is linked to the concept of eternal bliss or Nibbana.

6. What is the Fourth Noble Truth (Magga)?

The Fourth Noble Truth explains how Buddhists can overcome their suffering and despair. This is the Eightfold Path or Magga, also called the Noble Eightfold Path. 

7. How do the Four Noble Truths relate to the Eightfold Path?

When a follower of Buddha’s teachings understands the Four Noble Truths, he slowly follows the path to ending suffering. The Eightfold Path supports that effort. 

8. Can the Four Noble Truths be applied in everyday life?

Yes. People can do this by practicing meditation and mindfulness with equanimity daily.

9. How do the Four Noble Truths help in achieving enlightenment?

The four noble truths explain how to identify Dukkha or suffering, its root cause, how to end it, and the path or method to do so in a straightforward yet clear way. When you follow the eightfold path, you will eventually find the correct direction to achieve enlightenment. But it will be challenging, as everything revolves around the human mind and its behaviour. 

10. Are the Four Noble Truths unique to Buddhism?

Yes, it is the most essential teaching of Buddhist philosophy, and it is evident and transparent for anyone to follow.