The Four Noble Truths and Buddhist perspectives on human suffering

¶ … human situation is presented in the Four Noble Truths.

How do the four truths specifically aim at correcting an inadequate view of the human situation?

In what way can the four truths be understood as a consistent and coherent whole?

the human situation is presented in the Four Noble Truths in the following way: We generally thinks that the essence of existence is happiness. In fact, we have long sought ways for making ourselves happy. The four truths aim at correcting an inadequate view of the human situation . What is this inadequate view of the human situation? The American condition avows that we are equally deserving of happiness whilst many believe that happiness is within our reach. Happiness, popular myth says, is not something that naturally happens but that must be worked towards usually through a change of attitude. Many believe, even on a subconscious level, that happiness must be worked towards in an alternate way, namely through collection of money and material possession. Many of us think that success symbolizes happiness and money is the symbol and harbinger of success.

Buddhism, in the shape of the Four Noble Truths, presents a radical very different -- in fact polar-opposite -- perspective towards happiness. It blasts happiness and focuses on contentment saying that contentment can be brought about by the opposite approach: by annulling our desires and want for money and by subduing our reaction to sensual and reactive things of this world.

The Four Nobel Truths are integrated. One naturally leads off and into the other and they can best be understood and worked towards as a whole. It is only when taken as a whole that man can raise himself above pain and misery and achieve the state of sublime contentment -- without necessarily becoming rich or fortunate.

The Truths are the following:

1. The truth of suffering

After long years of contemplation, Buddha discovered that the fate of this world is to suffer. People naturally suffer. even the wealthiest and most famous person endures pain, disappointment, frustration, loss, death, inability to actualize his dreams, hurt, and rejection. Disillusion and discouragement happens to all of us. There are the usual elements of frailty, elderliness, and death as well as pains of childbirth and hankerings of futility and embarrassment.

Considered pessimistic by individuals (and forming the basis of Schopenhauer's pessimistic philosophy), this concept of suffering is actually a curative of Western delusion since it point s us face-to-face with the reality of the world.

The Second Noble Truth explains the constitution of this suffering. The Second Noble Truth is this:

2. Origin of suffering

Suffering exists. True. There may be nothing that we can do to eradicate or prevent the circumstances that happen to us, but we can affect our attitude towards these circumstances. And we can do so by recognizing that our attitude stems from our desires. It is only because we feel this hurt, think we should not be hurt, do not deserve this hurt -- deserve in fact happiness and are worthy or respect and comfort (as per Western prescription) that we succumb to disappointment, pain, disillusion and so forth.

Buddha theorizes that desires are prompted by the Three Roots of Evil which are known as:

Hatred and intolerance; Ignorance and delusion and Greed and desire

Each of these categories drives humans to misery, destruction, rancor, and frustration. They wreak havoc in the human soul and the human world.

The way to overcome this is by the Third Noble Truth which is:

4. Path to the cessation of suffering

This path is achieved through practical means. So finally we come to the instrument that, when practiced, can bring us full circle to obliviousness of desire. The instrument is the Eightfold Path and this consists of the following: Right Understanding of the Buddhist teachings; reflection; Positive Intention in performing the Paths; Right Speech: truth and generosity; Right Action; Right Livelihood; Effort in the positive state of one's mind; Mindfulness; and Concentration / focus

Says the Buddha:

When a noble disciple has thus understood suffering, the origin of suffering; the cessation of suffering, and the way leading to the cessation of suffering; & #8230; he here and now makes an end of suffering. In that way, too, a noble disciple is one of right view & #8230; and has arrived at this true Dharma. (#3; 19).

Dharma means 'teaching'. Buddhism teaches that man can obtain 'happiness' on this earth but 'happiness' of a different sort to the regular idea and happiness that is procured through different means than what much of the world has in mind. Whilst the West actively pursues factors that it believes will bring it happiness and accrues possessions, Buddha espouses that we kill our desires for desire; that we realize that desire only bring us to unhappiness; and that unhappiness is the inescapable fact of the Earth. The only way we can do so is by practicing the Eightfold Path and this can serve as a raft towards genuine contentment and bliss.

Source

The Four Noble Truths

http://www.buddhanet.net/4noble.htm

Four Noble Truths www.londonbuddhistvihara.org/fund_topics/fournoble.htm

Four Noble Truths: cattari ariya saccani www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sacca/index.html