The Four Noble Truths: The Spread Of Buddhism

Buddhism emerged from Hinduism, which comes from India. There was dissatisfaction among the Vaishya caste, who spoke out against the inequality of the Hindu caste system and the corruption and power that the Brahmin caste held. Buddhism's roots began in northeastern India and spread to the Northwest when it received support from the Mauryan emperor Asoka, who sent monks to spread the Buddha's teachings. Eventually, the religion spread to Central Asia and China between the first and third centuries A.D.
The Buddha uses many similar terms that come from Hinduism, but their meanings can differ in Buddhism. The concept of karma in Buddhism and Hinduism refers to the effects that come from a person's actions, thoughts, and speech. The cycle
of birth, death, and rebirth is known as samsara in both Hinduism and Buddhism. Ahisma is the concept that a person should be nonviolent and should not injure or do harm to any living beings.
The Four Noble Truths are the foundation of Buddhism and were part of Buddha's teachings after he reached enlightenment.
They laid out the blueprint for subsequent Buddhist teachings. The Buddha sought to share his insight of the Four Noble Truths to help people reach the goal of attaining Nirvana by practicing the Noble Eightfold Path.
The first truth refers to the existence of dukkha, or suffering, in life. It indicates that anything, whether it is upsetting or joyous, is temporary and will eventually come to an end. The second truth is of the cause of suffering, or samudaya. It emerges from a craving and clinging to pleasures. It also refers to our insatiable thirst for happiness and success which never seems to come. This thirst comes from an ignorance of self and an attachment to material things.
The third truth, nirhodha, is the truth of the end of suffering. By practicing mindfulness, our craving and clinging will cease. This comes from an understanding that there is an ever-changing nature to things. The Fourth Noble Truth, magga, is the truth of the path that frees us from suffering and is the foundation for what is known as the Noble Eightfold Path. The Buddha teaches that the solution that will put craving to an end is to follow this path, which is a path of ethical conduct, concentration, and
wisdom.
An understanding of the Three Marks of Reality is taught to help bring an end to suffering. Anicca is the impermanence of everything. However, nothing is seen as ultimately ceasing to exist but instead becomes a part of something else. Dukkha refers to the imperfection or dissatisfaction of the world. Any being that is not enlightened experiences suffering and dissatisfaction. Anatta teaches that nothing can belong to a self and refers as well to emptiness.
A Buddhist's daily life consists of keeping the Four Noble Truths in mind in everyday experiences.
For example, a student trying to study for an exam may feel irritated by a loud party that his neighbors are having. His frustration with the raucous party and its noise is the first of the Four Noble Truths. His wish for the noise to cease so he could study is the Second Noble Truth or the cause of dukkha. However, once the student accepts that the noise is going to be a part of his experience while studying, he reaches the Third Noble Truth and the suffering will come to an end. By practicing mindfulness of his own mind, the student is practicing magga, which is the Fourth Noble Truth and also the Noble Eightfold
Path.
While there are similarities between Buddhism and Hinduism, there are also differences as well. While a Buddhist can reach enlightenment at any time during their life, a Hindu must be born into the right caste before they can achieve moksha. Because of these social inequalities, some Hindus were convinced to convert. The Four Noble Truths taught by the Buddha helped to establish the teachings that would follow from him. This doctrine is practiced by a Buddhist in his or her everyday life and, by doing so, helps them to reach enlightenment and Nirvana.