Definition: Four Noble Truths: (1) ill-being exists; (2) there are causes of this ill-being; (3) ill-being can be overcome; (4) there is a path to stop ill-being.
Insight: The Four Noble Truths was the Buddha's first teaching.
Insight: The Truths are called "arya" (noble in Sanskrit) as they lead to the end of suffering.
Insight: The Four Noble Truths are about suffering, but they are also about happiness - through relieving suffering.
Insight: Happiness, transformation, and healing are possible - it comes from within us.
Insight: Each truth contains the others - that cannot be separated. Truly understanding one Truth means understanding them all.
Insight:The Four Noble Truths contain ideas including non-duality, emptiness, inter-being, that can only be understood through practice.
Insight: Mindful breathing is the foundational practice of the path to action.
Insight:The First Noble Truth. Dukkha is the Sanskrit word for ill-being - there is suffering in the world. Examples include disease, poverty, death. There is suffering inside us and around us. All is not suffering. We cannot remove all suffering. Suffering depends on our perceptions. No mud, no lotus: beauty cannot exist without ill-being.
Principles:The First Noble Truth. Stop and look deeply. Cultivate compassion. Expose and call suffering by its true names.
Insight:The Second Noble Truth. There are causes of suffering - everything has roots. Once we begin to look at the root causes, we also transform suffering. The Second Noble Truth is a path that leads to suffering - it is the ignoble path of wrong view, thinking, speech, actions, livelihood, mindfulness, concentration. If we understand this path, we can see its opposite. Our consumption causes suffering, and our joy. Four nutriments: (1) edible food; (2) sensory impression (eyes, ears, noses, bodies, minds); (3) volition - our desires both bad and good; (4) consciousness - we are influenced by those round us.
Principles:The Second Noble Truth. Look deeply to see where suffering comes from.
Insight:The Third Noble Truth. Happiness is possible. Transforming the causes of suffering can lead to the end of ill-being. Well-being is the cessation of ill-being. The seeds that grow within us depend what we decide to water, and what was watered by our ancestors. Mindfulness, concentration and insight are the sources of happiness.
Principles:The Third Noble Truth. Water the seeds of compassion, loving-kindness, mindfulness. Take mindful walks. Practice awareness. Practice contemplation of the nature of opposites - being and nonbeing, suffering and happiness. Make a vow to transform suffering in yourself and others. Practice mindful consumption.
Insight:The Fourth Noble Truth. We can only experience happiness and well-being when we live ethically. There is no true well-being that does not consider the well-being of others.
Principles:The Fourth Noble Truth. Walk the Noble Eightfold Path.
