The Four Noble Truths
Right after his Enlightenment, Buddha gave what is now celebrated as “The Sermon at Benares”. This is when Buddha gave his first sermon. The Four Noble Truths is considered the central principle behind every Buddhist practice. The Truth of Suffering
Life is suffering. Suffering is an unattractive word to hear, especially when you are new to a system of belief. It was mentioned in the previous chapter that the goal of Buddhist practice is to attain a state of existence where suffering is nonexistent. That is quite contrary to what this Noble truth is saying, isn’t …show more content…
They get attached to the idea of ‘having’. Because of this attachment, people fail to see within themselves and are always on the lookout for the next thing to desire.
So, if life is suffering, and your own attachment to the end of suffering is second-nature, is it possible to attain a state where suffering ends? The third noble truth has the answer to this question. The Truth of the End of Suffering
The end of suffering is referred to in Buddhism as enlightenment – a heightened state of being where dukkha comes to an end. It is also sometimes referred to as bodhi or “awakening”. Beyond this, complete liberation from pain and rebirth can be achieved (Nirvana).
Enlightenment is the realization that happens when you gain full wisdom beyond your own existence. Once this happens, you will be freed from suffering and attachment.
If this noble truth answers the question “Can suffering end?”, the fourth noble truth provides the answer to “How can one end