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.
Definition: (1) The existence of suffering; (2) the making of suffering; (3) the possibility of well-being; (4) the Noble Eightfold Path to well-being.
Insight: The Four Noble Truths are also known as "Four Wonderful Truths" or "Four holy Truths".
Insight: The First Noble Truth, dukkha, in Chinese has roots in the word "bitter".
Insight: We all suffer to some extent.
Insight: After realising and touching our suffering, we need to look deeply into it and see how it came to be.
Insight: Healing from suffering is possible.
Insight: The Noble Eightfold Path is: right view, right thinking, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right diligence, right mindfulness, right concentration.
Insight: The Dharma Wheel consists of 12 turnings, 3 for each of the Four Noble Truths: First Noble Truth: (1) Recognition: This is suffering; (2) Encouragement: Suffering should be understood; (3) Realisation: Suffering is understood; Second Noble Truth: (4) Recognition: There is an ignoble way that has led to suffering; (5) Encouragement: That ignoble way should be understood; (6) Realisation: That ignoble way is understood; Third Noble Truth: (7) Recognition: Well-being is possible; (8) Encouragement: Well-being should be obtained; (9) Realisation: Well-being is obtained; Fourth Noble Truth: (10) Recognition: There is a noble path that leads to well-being.; (11) Encouragement: This noble path has to be lived; (12) Realisation: The noble path is being lived.
Definition: (1) Ill-being; (2) the path leading to ill-being; (3) well-being; (4) the path leading to well-being (Noble Eightfold Path).
Insight: Ethics are principles of action that reduce suffering and nourish happiness.
Insight: The Four Noble Truths are foundations of ethics.
Insight: The Noble Eightfold Path consists of: right view, right thinking, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right diligence, right mindfulness, right concentration.
Insight: There is suffering in us and in the world. There must also be something else - happiness.
Insight: Suffering is the result of many causes and conditions; we don't have to destroy suffering to have happiness.
Insight: Acknowledging suffering doesn't mean seeing everything as suffering.
Insight: To transform suffering, we have to find the causes, how it developed.
Insight: One common cause of suffering is attachment to our beliefs - which leads to wrong thinking, speech, and action. A wrong view leads to the opposite of all the steps of the Eightfold Path.
Insight: Suffering can be transformed into happiness - confirmed by the Third Noble Truth.
Insight: The Four Noble Truths are all interconnected - we cannot view them separately.
Principle: Acknowledge the real suffering inside and around us, and learn to handle the suffering we have acknowledged.
Definition: (1) Suffering or ill-being (dukkha); (2) "the making of ill-being", its causes; (3) "the cessation of ill-being" (or the birth of well-being); (4) "the path which leads to the cessation of ill-being" (The Noble Eightfold Path).
Insight: Through understanding the nature of suffering, we have the change to learn understanding and compassion.
Insight: Ignorance is the root of ill-being.
Insight: By looking deep into our suffering we can understand its causes, and the sources of nourishment for that suffering.
Insight: Well-being is as real as ill-being.
Insight: We do not always identify our well-being because we do not feel the pain of suffering - only through understanding suffering can we realise where there is well-being.
Insight: When we have wisdom, we have right thinking.
Insight: The four truths are called noble because they help us to understand suffering and transform it, we are noble because of our way of life.
Principle: Recognise ill-being, take a deep look into its nature and understand it.
Principle: Identify and understand the causes of ill-being.
Insight: The Four Noble Truths are similar to a physician's diagnosis and prescription: identifying the disease, its cause, whether it may be cured, the prescription for the remedy.
Insight: The First Noble Truth is concerned with dukkha, or suffering.
Insight: The Second Noble Truth is concerned with the cause of the suffering. It is concerned with a lack of self-knowledge. When we have self knowledge there is no duality between self and the outside world.
Insight: The Third Noble Truth is concerned with the ending of suffering - nirvana.
Insight: The Fourth Noble Truth describes the method or path to end suffering, the Eightfold Path: (1) Complete view; (2) Complete understanding; (3) Complete or truthful speech; (4) Complete action; (5) Complete vocation; (6) Complete application; (7) Complete recollectedness; (8) Complete contemplation.
Definition: (1) Life involves suffering; (2) suffering arises from desire and ignorance; (3) suffering can be escaped; (4) one can be liberated from suffering by living an ethical life and by meditation.
Insight: Buddhist doctrine centres around the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold path.
Insight: Buddhism is not a religion but a philosophy.
Insight: The Eightfold Path is: right vision (understanding), right emotion, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right meditation.
Definition: (1) Dukkha "suffering, pain, frustration, chronic disease"; (2) Trishna - the cause of suffering (desire, craving); (3) Nirvana - a state of liberation from suffering; (4) Marga "path' - The Eightfold Path to remove suffering.
Insight: Dukkha (suffering) is the opposite of sukha - happiness, bliss, pleasure.
Insight: The Eightfold Path has three divisions - drishti (understanding), sila (conduct), and smriti (meditation).
Insight: Each step on the Eightfold Path is usually preceded by the word "right" in its translation, but should really be interpreted as "middle-wayed" for balance.
Definition: (1) Human existence is intrinsically characterised by dukkha (suffering); (2) Dukkha arises because of our cravings and desires (positive and negative); (3) There can be cessation of dukkha, nirvana; (4) We can achieve Nirvana through the Eightfold Path.
Insight: The Four Noble Truths teaches that X is the case because of Y, and will cease if Y ceases, where X is intrinsic to human existence.
Insight: The Four Noble Truths teach that suffering occurs because we do not accept impermanence, and constantly seek things to be permanent - youth, health, loved ones, possessions - the disappointment of reality fuels our suffering.
Definition: (1) Life is suffering (dukkha); (2) the cause of suffering is craving, desire, and attachment to worldly things; (3) suffering can be eliminated by eliminating these causes; (4) the way to eliminate suffering is by following the Eightfold Path, magga.
Insight: The release of suffering is not from renouncing things in the world, but releasing from attachment to those things.
Definition: (1) The primary characteristic of human existence is suffering (dukkha); (2) How this suffering arises; (3) Suffering can cease; (4) The way leading to the cessation of suffering.
Insight: Dukkha is usually translated as suffering, but can also mean unsatisfactoriness.
Insight: Everything is impermanent - all of our experiences are transitory.
Insight: The Four Noble Truths form the basis of Buddha's teachings.
Insight: Humans can change their circumstances if they follow a path similar to the Fourth Noble Truths: (1) we recognise our suffering; (2) we understand the origin of our suffering; (3) we recognise that there is a way to overcoming our suffering; (4) we accept that to overcome suffering we must follow certain norms for living and change our current practices.
Insight: Life is suffering, suffering is the result of desires, there is a way to stop suffering, the way to stop suffering is the Eightfold Path - correct views, intention, speech, conduct, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration.
Insight: Buddhists do not believe in any god, but in the Four Noble Truths.
Insight: Through ethical conduct and discipline, we can achieve nirvana - being free of suffering.
Definition: (1) Dukkha, the truth of suffering; (2) Samudaya, the truth of the origin of suffering; (3) the truth of the cessation of suffering; (4) Magga, the truth of the path to the cessation of suffering.
Insight: Buddha blamed suffering on desire - tanha. Desire has three negative types [poisons] - greed, ignorance, and hatred.
Definition: (1) there is suffering; (2) the origin of suffering; (3) the end of suffering; (4) the Eightfold Path to end suffering - right mindfulness, right action, right intention, right livelihood, right effort, right concentration, right speech, right understanding).
Insight: Life is characterised by suffering, caused by unfulfillable desires.
Insight: We can overcome suffering by giving up our egos and attachments to worldly power or possessions.
Definition: (1) There is suffering; (2) there is a path to suffering; (3) well-being is possible; (4) there is a path of practice that leads to well-being.
Insight: There is no distinction between our own suffering and the suffering of the world.
Insight: Awareness of the existence of suffering leads to the practice of realisation - this is the first Noble Truth.
Insight: When we are unaware and do not meditate on the existence of suffering, we can easily we pushed around by passions, and desires for worldly things, and creating suffering as a result.
Insight: To eliminate suffering we must we aware of it, find its cause, and confront it directly.
Insight: We can realise nirvana - the absence of afflictions, and the presence of well-being - through the practice of the Four Noble Truths.
Insight: The Four Noble Truths is the way out of suffering.
Insight: If we can recognise suffering and its roots, we are able to see the path to joy and liberation.
Insight: The Fourth Noble Truth, or Noble Eightfold Path begins with the right view - one that is in line with reality.
Principle: In our daily lives we should look deeply for that the Four Noble Truths guide us.
Definition: (1) We all have suffering in our lives; (2) we can identify the causes of our suffering; (3) we can put an end to suffering, and heal; (4) there are paths to free us from suffering.
Example: (1) Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes; (2) likely caused by poor diet and becoming overweight; (3) the doctor tells you there is a solution; (4) you follow the doctor's recommendations - a combination of medicine, diet and exercise.
Insight: We can cultivate our well-being by applying mindfulness to our daily living.
Definition: (1) There is suffering; (2) there is a path that has produced the suffering; (3) suffering can be ended; (4) there is a path that leads to the cessation of suffering.
Insight: If we are able to understand our own suffering, we can understand the suffering of others.
Insight:The absence of suffering is happiness.
Insight:The Four Noble Truths is a practice for diagnosing and healing what ails us.
Definition: (1) There is suffering; (2) there is a path that generates suffering; (3) there is happiness; (4) there is a path to happiness and the cessation of suffering.
Insight: If we recognise suffering and look deeply at it and into its roots, we can remove the path or actions that feed that suffering, and find a way to happiness.
Insight: Suffering can be a good teacher.
Insight: The Four Noble Truths are not just about suffering, they are also about happiness, the opposite of suffering.
Insight: There is suffering. There is a path leading to suffering. There is the cessation of suffering. There is a path leading to happiness, the opposite of suffering.
Insight: The Four Noble Truths form the foundations of buddhism.
Definition: (1) There is suffering; (2) there are causes for the suffering; (3) there is an end to suffering; (4) the way to end the suffering.
Definition: (1) There is suffering; (2) there is an origin of suffering; (3) there is a cessation of suffering; (4) there is a road to end suffering.
Insight: We need to look at things according to reality.
Definition: (1) Suffering; (2) the origin of suffering; (3) the cessation of suffering; (4) the path that leads to the cessation of suffering (The Eightfold Path).
Definition: (1) Life is suffering; (2) the source of suffering is attachment; (3) the goal is to give up attachments; (4) The Eightfold Path
Insight: Buddhism begins with the Four Noble Truths.
Definition: (1) Suffering; (2) The cause of suffering (craving); (3) The cure for suffering (freedom from craving); (4) The treatment to suffering (The Eightfold Path).
Insight: The Four Noble Truths were taught to help people free themselves from delusion, and get relief from their suffering.
Insight: Nirvana is the extinguishing of suffering.
Key Insights & Principles
Happiness
Suffering exists, and we all experience it.
There are root causes to suffering.
Happiness (the opposite of suffering) exists.
There is a path we can take that leads to the cessation of suffering.
If we can recognise and name suffering, and look deeply into its roots, then we can understand that if we remove the actions that lead to suffering, we can find the way to happiness.
We need to look deeply at things, according to reality.
The Four Noble Truths were taught by the Buddha is help people free themselves from delusions, and get relief from suffering.
We can cultivate well-being by apply mindfulness practices in our daily living.
A common cause of suffering is attachment to our beliefs - which lead to wrong thinking, speech, and action.
Acknowledging the presence of suffering does not mean seeing everything as suffering.
We do not need to destroy suffering to have happiness.
Ignorance is the root of ill-being.
We do not always identify our well-being because we do not feel the pain of suffering, only when we can understand suffering can we realise there is well-being.
Everything is impermanent, which includes experiences such as suffering, and happiness.
The Eightfold Path (The Fourth Noble Truth) is divided into three: (1) Understanding (drishti); (2) Conduct (sila); (3) Meditation (smriti).
Look deeply into truths to guide the way.
Acknowledge the real suffering inside and around us.
