The Four Truths And The Eight Fold Path Of Buddhism

After the Buddha attained enlightenment, he preached a sermon, sharing the wisdom he had just attained so as to benefit humanity at large. The wisdom comprised of four noble truths and an eightfold path by which man could overcome his day to day problems and live a happier life. In effect, it was wisdom made simple.

Four Noble Truths

The Four Noble Truths or chatvari-arya-satyani, as they are known in Sanskrit, are meant to be understood, which makes the person who understands them, noble.

First Noble Truth: Life Means Suffering

If you are experiencing Life on earth, you cannot avoid suffering. Awareness of this truth is actually what made Prince Gautama take the first step towards becoming the Buddha. Used to being pampered at his palace and protected from all pains and suffering, he was shocked to leave his palace and discover that the world was full of suffering, in the form of illness, disease, old age, poverty and death. Even all the joys that one experiences are not meant to last because of their transient nature.

Second Noble Truth: Suffering Is Rooted In Desire

Our suffering, especially mental suffering, is related to everything we desire and crave for, oblivious of the fact that the objects of our desire, may it be love, money, or family, will all go in unpredictable ways. The greater the attachment, the greater the suffering, therefore.

Third Noble Truth: Your Suffering Can End

Such suffering can reduce by practising a policy of detachment. This means dispassion as opposed to passion. Attaining and perfecting dispassion is a process of growing at many levels, that ultimately results in the state of nirvana or freedom from all worries, troubles, complexes, fabrications and ideas.

Fourth Noble Truth: There Is A Path Out Of Suffering

There is a path that will lead to the end of suffering, and this is a gradual path of self-improvement. This path is the middle way between the two extremes of living life as we do, veering between self-indulgence or hedonism to excessive asceticism or self-mortification, both of which are applauded in some other religions. Choosing the middle path makes life easier too as one does not have to give up everything at one go nor become victims of illusionary pleasures.

The Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path or Astangika Marga is the path explained by the Buddha, which can be practiced in our daily lives to improve it and raise it above suffering. Just as it is not about the Four Noble Truths themselves but about understanding them, it is not so much about knowing the Eightfold Path as following it. The Eightfold Path is usually depicted by the eight-spoked Dhamma Chakra.

First Path: Correct View

Correct View means having the right perception and an accurate understanding of things. It is all about seeing things and people and Life with a spiritual and compassionate eye.

Second Path: Correct Intention

If the mind is where it all starts, it should be free of harmful intention towards another living being. Ill-will towards another due to envy or hatred is the root of all evil.

Third Path: Correct Speech

Correct speech means to refrain from verbal misdeeds such as lying, divisive speech, harsh speech and senseless speech. Words and language can instead be used to heal and create peace and happiness for others.

Fourth Path: Correct Action

Correct action means to do good karma and avoid bad karma by helping others, doing acts of charity, praying, and also refraining from physical misdeeds such as killing, stealing, sexual misconduct and violence.

Fifth Path: Correct Livelihood

Correct livelihood means choosing a vocation that does not harm others, to earn one's living through ethical and legal means, avoiding trades that directly or indirectly harm others, such as trading in illegal weapons, human trafficking, animal slaughter and drugs.

Sixth Path: Correct Effort

Correct effort means to make a conscious effort to think positive thoughts, abandon negative states of mind, take positive action to help others, to do the right thing by another human being.

Seventh Path: Correct Mindfulness

Correct Mindfulness means to become aware of one's thought processes, where are they arising, where are they going, what are the reactions in our body, what are our feelings and thoughts,etc. Once one practices this daily, one will be able to change oneself positively and not be at the mercy of one's circumstances.

Eighth Path: Correct Concentration

Correct concentration means single-mindedness or devoted attention to the task at hand. Only such an attitude can help achieve perfection in one's job.

The End of Dhukka

The Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path was Buddha's gift to help mankind stop suffering and start living through the process of self-awakening.

By Radhika Ravi Rajan