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Introduction
The teachings on the Four Noble Truths explain the nature of dukkha (Pali; loosely translated as suffering, anxiety, dissatisfaction[1]), its causes, and how it can be overcome. The Four Noble Truths are regarded as central to the teachings of Buddhism; they are said to provide a unifying theme, or conceptual framework, for all of Buddhist thought. In the Buddhist tradition, it is said that the Buddha compared these four truths to the footprints of an elephant: just as the footprints of all the other animals can fit within the footprint of an elephant, in the same way, all of the teachings of the Buddha are contained within the teachings on the four noble truths.[2][3][4] According to tradition, the Buddha taught on the four noble truths repeatedly throughout his lifetime, continually expanding and clarifying his meaning.[4] Walpola Rahula explains: The heart of the Buddhas teaching lies in the Four Noble Truths (Cattri Ariyasaccni) which he expounded in his very first sermon to his old colleagues, the five ascetics, at Isipatana (modern Sarnath) near Benares. In this sermon, as we have it in the original texts, these four Truths are given briefly. But there are innumerable places in the early Buddhist scriptures where they are explained again and again, with greater detail and in different ways. If we study the Four Noble Truths with the help of these references and explanations, we get a fairly good and accurate account of the essential teachings of the Buddha according to the original texts.[5]
A depiction of the first teaching of the Buddha, in which the Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths to his first five disciples at Sarnath, India.
2. "This is the noble truth of the origin of dukkha: it is this craving which leads to renewed existence, accompanied by delight and lust, seeking delight here and there, that is, craving for sensual pleasures, craving for existence, craving for extermination."
Four Noble Truths 3. "This is the noble truth of the cessation of dukkha: it is the remainderless fading away and cessation of that same craving, the giving up and relinquishing of it, freedom from it, nonreliance on it." 4. "This is the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of dukkha: it is the Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration." [7][8][9]
The Pali terms ariya sacca(Sanskrit: arya satya) are commonly translated as "noble truths". Arya means "noble", "not ordinary"; sacca means "truth" or "reality".
Explanation
Summary
The four noble truths can be summarized as follows:[21][22] 1. 2. 3. 4. The truth of dukkha (suffering, anxiety, stress) The truth of the origin of dukkha The truth of the cessation of dukkha The truth of the path leading to the cessation of dukkha
Experiential knowledge
The term "noble truths" is a common translation of the Pali terms ariya sacca (Sanskrit: arya satya). The Pali term sacca (Sanskrit: satya) means "truth" and "real" or "actual thing." With that in mind, Rupert Gethin explains that the four noble truths are not asserted as propositional truths or creeds. Instead, they are understood in the Buddhist tradition as "true things" or "realities" that the Buddha experienced.[47][48] Gethin writes: The word satya (Pali sacca) can certainly mean truth, but it might equally be rendered as real or actual thing. That is, we are not dealing here with propositional truths with which we must either agree or disagree, but with four true things or realities whose nature, we are told, the Buddha finally understood on the night of his awakening. [...] This is not to say that the Buddhas discourses do not contain theoretical statements of the nature of suffering, its cause, its cessation, and the path to its cessation, but these descriptions function not so much as dogmas of the Buddhist faith as a convenient conceptual framework for making sense of Buddhist thought.[47] This understanding is reflected by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, who states that the Four Noble Truths are best understood not as beliefs, but as categories of experience. Thanissaro Bhikkhu writes: These four truths are best understood, not as beliefs, but as categories of experience. They offer an alternative to the ordinary way we categorize what we can know and describein terms of me/not me, and being/not being.[49] These ordinary categories create trouble, for the attempt to maintain full being for one's sense of "me" is a stressful effort doomed to failure, in that all of the components of that "me" are inconstant, stressful, and thus not worthy of identifying as "me" or "mine". [...][T]he study of the four noble truths is aimed first at understanding these four categories, and then at applying them to experience so that one may act properly toward each of the categories and thus attain the highest, most total happiness possible.[] The Tibetan Buddhist lama Chgyam Trungpa emphasizes that cessation is a personal experience.[50] Chgyam Trungpa explains: The truth of cessation is a personal discovery. It is not mystical and does not have any connotations of religion or psychology. It is simply your experience... It is like experiencing instantaneous good health: you have no cold, no flu, no aches, and no pains in your body. You feel perfectly well, absolutely refreshed and wakeful! Such an experience is possible.[50]
Lotus Sutra
An example of these changes is the Lotus Sutra. The text of the Lotus Sutra refers to the Four Noble Truths as the first teaching of the Buddha, but introduces, in the third chapter titled Similes and Parables, what it calls "the most wonderful and unsurpassed great Dharma": [52][53] In the past at Vras, you turned the wheel of the Darma of the Four Noble Truths, making distinctions and preaching that all things are born and become extinct, being made up of the five components (skandhas). Now you turn the wheel of the most wonderful, the unsurpassed great Dharma. This Dharma is very profound and abstruse; there are few who can believe it. Since times past often we have heard the World-Honored One's preaching, but we have never heard this kind of profound, wonderful and superior Dharma. Since the World-Honored One preaches this Dharma, we all welcome it with joy.
Nichiren Buddhism
Another example is Nichiren Buddhism. Based on the Lotus Sutras teaching of what it describes as the "unsurpassed Dharma", Nichiren Buddhism acknowledges the Four Noble Truths as the first sermon, but not as the final teaching of the Buddha. In his letter "A Comparison between the Lotus and Other Sutras" Nichiren viewed the Four Noble Truths as a specific teaching expounded by the Buddha to the rvakas disciples, those who attain awakening by listening to the teachings of a Buddha.[54] Craving, described as the cause of sufferings in the Four Noble Truths, is called "Attachment to Earthly Desires" in Nichiren's teachings.[55] Craving or attachment to desires, however, is not regarded here as the sole cause of suffering, but as only one among other causes which also lead to sufferings such as "Arrogance, Negligence, Refusing to believe, Hatred, Holding Grudges". These causes of evil behaviour leading to sufferings are called the Fourteen Slanders (of the Dharma).
Contemporary interpretations
With the growing acquaintance in the western world with Buddhism, new interpretations and understandings of the Four Noble Truths have been given.
Notes
[1] For alternate translations of the term dukkha, see Dukkha#Alternate_translations [2] The Four Noble Truths are regarded as central to the teachings of Buddhism; they encompass the entire spiritual path: Walpola Rahula states: "The heart of the Buddhas teaching lies in the Four Noble Truths (Cattri Ariyasaccni)..."Walpola Rahula 2007, Kindle loc. 514-524 The Dalai Lama states: "The Four Noble Truths are the very foundation of the Buddhist teachings, and that is why they are so important. In fact, if you don't understand the Four Noble Truths, and if you have not experienced the truth of this teaching personally, it is impossible to practice the Buddha Dharma. Therefore I am always happy to have the opportunity to explain them."Dalai Lama 1998, p.1 Ringu Tulku states: "The fist instruction of the Buddha was the teaching on the Four Noble Truths. These cannot be said to be just "Shravakayana". They are everything. Apart from the Four Noble Truths, there is nothing else in Buddhism. So they are the most important thing."Ringu Tulku 2005, p.22 Thich Nhat Hanh states: "After realizing complete, perfect awakening (samyak sambodhi), the Buddha had to find words to share his insight. He already had the water, but he had to discover jars like the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path to hold it. The Four Noble Truths are the cream of the Buddha's teaching."Thich Nhat Hanh 1999, p.9 Joseph Goldstein states: "[The Buddha's] first teaching [...] is called Setting the Wheel of the Dharma in Motion, and it lays out the Four Noble Truths, the basic doctrine of liberation common to all Buddhist schools."Goldstein 2002, p.24
Piyadassi Thera states: "...the Four Noble Truths are the central concept of Buddhism. What the Buddha taught during his ministry of forty-five years embraces these Truths, namely: Dukkha, suffering or unsatisfactoriness, its arising, its cessation and the way out of this unsatisfactory state." The Ancient Path - By Piyadassi Thera, Chapter 15 (http:/ / www. dhammatalks. net/ Books3/ Piyadassi_Thera_The_Buddhas_Ancient_Path. htm#CHAPTER 15) Judith Leif states: "The four noble truths are central to the Buddhist tradition. The Buddha presented these teachings in one of the first sermons he gave after his enlightenment, and they were recorded in the sutra The First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma. [...] In later teachings the Buddha touched on the four noble truths repeatedly, expanding upon and further elucidating his original presentation."Leif 2009, p.viii Ron Leifer states: "The Buddha repeated over and over again that the four noble truths are the foundation and nucleus of his teachings. All Buddhist wisdom is contained within them like the layers of an onion, each layer more subtle and profound than the previous, leading to a central insight. Monks, Buddha said, by the fact of understanding as they really are, these four truths, a Tathagata is called an Arhat, a fully enlightened one."Leifer 1997, p.70 Walpola Rahula states: "In [the Buddha's first] sermon, as we have it in the original texts, these four Truths are given briefly. But there are innumerable places in the early Buddhist scriptures where they are explained again and again, with greater detail and in different ways."Walpola Rahula 2007, Kindle loc. 514-524 Thich Nhat Hanh states: "The Buddha continued to proclaim these truths right up until his Great Passing Away (mahaparanirvana)."Thich Nhat Hanh 1999, p.9 Ajahn Succitto states: And many would say that [the Buddha's first discourse] was his most important discourse because it established the basis of the teaching that he added to throughout his lifethe teaching of suffering and the cessation of suffering, which he encapsulated in four great or noble truths.Ajahn Sucitto, p.2 [5] Walpola Rahula 2007, Kindle loc. 514-524 [6] Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (http:/ / www. accesstoinsight. org/ tipitaka/ sn/ sn56/ sn56. 011. than. html) [7] Bhikkhu Bodhi (translator) 2000, p.1844 [8] In this translation, Bodhi elides the six middle factors of the Noble Eightfold Path (between right view and right concentration). Thus Bodhi's translation for the six middle factors was taken from his translation of Samyutta Nikaya 45.1 Bhikkhu Bodhi (translator) 2000, p.1523-24Feer 1976, p.421f [9] In Anguttara Nikaya 3.61, the Buddha provides an alternate elaboration on the second and third noble truths identifying the arising and cessation of suffering in accordance with Dependent Origination's Twelve Causes, from ignorance to old age and death Anguttara Nikaya 3.61 (http:/ / www. accesstoinsight. org/ tipitaka/ an/ an03/ an03. 061. than. html) [10] The Pali wordings of the four noble truths are as follows: Bhikkhu Pesala: An Exposition of the Dhammacakka Sutta (http:/ / www. aimwell. org/ Books/ Pesala/ Dhammacakka/ dhammacakka. html) 1. dukkham ariyasaccam 2. Dukkhasamudayam ariyasaccam 3. Dukkhanirodham ariyasaccam 4. Dukkhanirodhagmin patipad ariyasaccam [11] Monier-Williams 1899, 1964, p.483
Thich Nhat Hanh (translation of the first teaching of the Buddha according to the Mahayana tradition): "Brothers, there are four truths: the existence of suffering, the cause of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the path which leads to the cessation of suffering. I call these the Four Noble Truths".Thich Nhat Hanh 1991, p.195 Ringu Tulku (translation of the first teaching of the Buddha according to the Mahayana tradition): "There is suffering in this world. There are causes of this suffering. There is cessation of suffering, and there are ways to reach this cessation of suffering".Ringu Tulku 2005, p.22 Bhikkhu Bodhi: "1. The truth of Dukkha; 2. The truth of the origin of Dukkha; 3. The truth of the cessation of Dukkha; 4. The truth of the path, the way to liberation from Dukkha". Mark Epstein: "Suffering, its cause, its cessation, and the path to its cessation".Epstein 2004, p.42 Mingyur Rinpoche describes the Four Noble Truths as "Four Pure Insights into the Way Things Are". He summarizes these insights as follows: Ordinary life is conditioned by suffering; suffering results from causes; the causes of suffering can be extinguished; there is a simple path through which the causes of suffering can be extinguished.Mingyur Rinpoche 2007, p.70 Macmillan Encyclopedia of Buddhism: 1. The noble truth that is suffering; 2. The noble truth that is the arising of suffering; 3. The noble truth that is the end of suffering; 4. The noble truth that is the way leading to the end of suffering.Buswell 2003, Volume One, p. 296 [22] In the Buddhist discourses, the Buddha is often compared to a doctor, and the four noble truths are formulated according to the ancient Indian medical model as follows:Geshe Tashi Tsering 2006, p.2Harvey 1990, p.47Walpola Rahula 2007, loc. 525-541Gethin 1998, p.63Leifer 1997, p.71Lopez 2001, p.52 The Four Noble Truths, by Tamara Engel (http:/ / nyimc. org/ index. php/ site/ article/ the_four_noble_truths/ ) Beyond Coping: The Buddha as Doctor, the Dhamma as Medicine by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (http:/ / www. accesstoinsight. org/ lib/ study/ beyondcoping/ medicine. html) The Four Noble Truths by Peter Della Santina (http:/ / www. dharmanet. org/ Della4nobletruths. htm) The Doctor Is Within by Pico Iyer. New York Times Opinionator. July 22, 2009. (http:/ / opinionator. blogs. nytimes. com/ 2009/ 07/ 22/ the-doctor-is-within/ ) Life Isn't Just Suffering by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (http:/ / www. accesstoinsight. org/ lib/ authors/ thanissaro/ lifeisnt. html) 1. There is an illness 2. There is a cause of the illness (the diagnosis) 3. There is a possibility of a cure of the illness (the prognosis) 4. There is a prescription or treatment for the illness that can bring about a cure [23] Gethin 1998, p.61 [24] Walpola Rahula 2007, Kindle loc. 530 [25] Thich Nhat Hanh 1999, p.11 [26] The Four Noble Truths by Traleg Kyabgon (http:/ / www. shambhala. com/ html/ learn/ features/ buddhism/ basics/ four-truths. cfm) [27] Walpola Rahula 2007, loc. 791-809 [28] This explanation is more common in commentaries on the Four Noble Truths within the Theravada tradition: e.g. Ajahn Sucitta (2010); Ajahn Sumedho (ebook); Rahula (1974); etc. [29] Gethin 1998, p.70 [30] Ajahn Sucitto 2010, Kindle loc. 943-946 [31] Ajahn Sucitto 2010, Kindle loc. 966-979 [32] See the article Tanha for further citations and clarification.
Four Noble Truths Buswell, Robert E. (ed.) (2003), Encyclopedia of Buddhism, MacMillan Reference Books, ISBN978-0-02-865718-9 Chogyam Trungpa (2009), The Truth of Suffering and the Path of Liberation (edited by Judy Leif), Shambhala Dalai Lama (1998), The Four Noble Truths, Thorsons Dalai Lama (1992), The Meaning of Life, translated and edited by Jeffrey Hopkins, Wisdom Duff, Tony (2008), Contemplation by way of the Twelve Interdependent Arisings (http://www.tibet.dk/pktc/ gelugpa.htm), Padma Karpo Translation Committee, retrieved 2008-08-19 Epstein, Mark (2004), Thoughts Without A Thinker: Psychotherapy from a Buddhist Perspective, Basic Books, Kindle Edition Feer, Leon (editor) (1976), The Samyutta Nikaya, 5, London: Pali Text Society Geshe Tashi Tsering (2006), Buddhist Psychology: The Foundation of Buddhist Thought, Perseus Books Group. Kindle Edition. Gethin, Rupert (1998), Foundations of Buddhism, Oxford University Press Goldstein, Joseph (2002), One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism, HarperCollins Harvey, Peter (1990), Introduction to Buddhism, Cambridge University Press Kalupahana, David J. (1992-B), A history of Buddhist philosophy, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited Kelsang Gyatso, Geshe (2005, US ed. 2007), How to Solve Our Human Problems: The Four Noble Truths, Tharpa Publications, ISBN978-0-9789067-1-9 Lama Surya Das (1997), Awakening the Buddha Within, Broadway Books, Kindle Edition. Leif, Judith (2009), Introduction to 'The Truth of Suffering and the Path of Liberation' by Chogyam Trungpa (edited by Judy Leif), Shambhala Leifer, Ron (1997), The Happiness Project, Snow Lion Lopez, Donald S. (2001), The Story of Buddhism, HarperCollins Mingyur Rinpoche (2007), The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness, Harmony Kindle Edition Moffitt, Philip (2008), Dancing with Life: Buddhist Insights for Finding Meaning and Joy in the Face of Suffering, Rodale, Kindle Edition Monier-Williams (1899, 1964), A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/ scans/MWScan/MWScanpdf/mw0483-dut.pdf), London: Oxford University Press, retrieved 27 December 2008 Potter, Karl (2004), The Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies, Vol. IX: Buddhist philosophy from 350 to 600 AD Ringu Tulku (2005), Daring Steps Toward Fearlessness: The Three Vehicles of Tibetan Buddhism, Snow Lion Rockhill, William (1992), The Life of Buddha And the Early History of His Order Derived from Tibetan, Asian Educational Services Snelling, John (1987), The Buddhist handbook. A Complete Guide to Buddhist Teaching and Practice, London: Century Paperbacks Thich Nhat Hanh (1991), Old Path White Clouds, Parallax Press Thich Nhat Hanh (1999), The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching, Three River Press Walpola Rahula (2007), What the Buddha Taught, Grove Press. Kindle Edition. Wardner, A.K. (1970), Indian Buddhism, Delhi Watson, Burton (1993), The Lotus Sutra, Columbia University Press
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Further reading
The following commentaries have been written on the four noble truths: Ajahn Sucitto (2010). Turning the Wheel of Truth: Commentary on the Buddha's First Teaching. Shambhala. Ajahn Sumedho (2002). The Four Noble Truths. Amaravati Publications. (Available for free in two formats: HTML (http://www.buddhanet.net/4noble.htm) and downloadable PDF (http://www.buddhanet.net/ ebooks_g.htm)) Bhikkhu Bodhi (2006). The Noble Eightfold Path: Way to the End of Suffering. Pariyatti Publishing. Chgyam Trungpa (2009). The Truth of Suffering and the Path of Liberation. Shambhala. Dalai Lama (1998). The Four Noble Truths. Thorsons. Epstein, Mark (2004). Thoughts Without A Thinker: Psychotherapy from a Buddhist Perspective. Basic Books. Kindle Edition. (Part 1 examines the four truths from a Western psychological perspective) Gethin, Rupert (1998). Foundations of Buddhism. Oxford University Press. (Chapter 3 is a commentary of about 25 pages.) Lopez, Donald S. (2001). The Story of Buddhism. HarperCollins. (pp. 42-54) Moffitt, Phillip (2008). Dancing with Life: Buddhist Insights for Finding Meaning and Joy in the Face of Suffering. Rodale, Kindle Edition. (An explanation of how to apply the Four Noble Truths to daily life) Ringu Tulku (2005). Daring Steps Toward Fearlessness: The Three Vehicles of Tibetan Buddhism. Snow Lion. (Part 1 of 3 is a commentary on the four truths) Thich Nhat Hanh (1999). The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching. Three Rivers Press. Walpola Rahula (1974). What the Buddha Taught. Grove Press.
External links
Online commentaries http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma2/fourtruths.html - Ajahn Chah http://www.buddhanet.net/4noble.htm - Ajahn Sumedho http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/truths.html - Thanissaro Bhikkhu http://www.beyondthenet.net/dhamma/fourNoble.htm - Bhikkhu Bodhi http://www.shambhala.com/html/learn/features/buddhism/basics/four-truths.cfm - Traleg Kyabgon (brief commentary) http://nyimc.org/index.php/site/article/the_four_noble_truths/- Tamara Engel (brief commentary) http://www.dharmanet.org/lc4nobletruths.htm - Dharmanet, links to several online commentaries Introduction to the Four Noble Truths (http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/sutra/ level2_lamrim/intermediate_scope/brief_introduction_four_noble_truth.html?query=four+noble+truths) Dalai Lama, Alexander Berzin Overview of Four Noble Truths (http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/archives/approaching_buddhism/ introduction/overview_four_noble_truths/transcript.html?query=four+noble+truths) - Alexander Berzin http://www.rinpoche.com/fornob.html - Thrangu Rinpoche
Eightfold path http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/waytoend.html - Bhikkhu Bodhi http://dharmastudy.org/the-four-noble-truths/- Bhikkhu Bodhi, Richard Blumberg Theravada The Four Noble Truths: A Study Guide (http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/truths.html) (by Thanissaro Bhikkhu) Section 3.H.i: The Four Noble Truths - Wings to Awakening (http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/ thanissaro/wings/part3.html#part3-h) (translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu)
Four Noble Truths The Buddhist: The Four Noble Truths (http://www.buddhist.20m.com/about_1.html) by Nalaka Priyantha Lecture on the Four Noble Truths by Bhikkhu Bodhi (http://www.bodhimonastery.net/courses/TenLectures/ MP3/BB-002_ Four_Noble_Truths.mp3) Buddhanet.net (http://www.buddhanet.net/): The Four Noble Truths: Teachings by Ajahn Sumedho (eBook) (http://www.buddhanet.net/filelib/pdf/4nobltru.zip) An online version of the above text by Ajahn Sumedho (http://www.buddhanet.net/4noble.htm) Four Noble Truths, DharmaNet (http://www.dharmanet.org/lc4nobletruths.htm) Chinese ChineseBodhiDhammacakka at CBETA Chinese Electronic Tripitaka (http://w3.cbeta.org/ result/normal/T02/0109_001.htm) As of 28 October 2008 Tibetan Buddhism: The Four Noble Truths (http://meditationincolorado.org/buddhism_four_noble_truths.htm) by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso A View on the Four Noble Truths (http://viewonbuddhism.org/4_noble_truths.html) Buddhism - the Four Noble Truths (http://www.meditateinlondon.org.uk/buddhism-the-four-noble-truths. php) Sixteen Aspects of the Four Noble Truths (http://www.berzinarchives.com/sutra/sutra_level_4/ list_16_4_noble_truths.html) Nichiren The Four Noble Truth in Nichiren Buddhism (http://www.sokahumanism.com/nichiren-buddhism/ Four_Noble_Truths_and_the_Lotus_Sutra.html) Western The Light of Asia (Book Eight) (http://myweb.cableone.net/subru/Buddhism.html), a poem in iambic pentameter by Sir Edwin Arnold Buddhism in the National Capital of Canada: 4 Noble Truths (http://dharma.ncf.ca/introduction/ 4-Noble-Truths.html)
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