The four noble truths in Buddhism are at the core of the Buddha’s teachings. It encompasses the truth about why we suffer and what it is, what causes this suffering and where it originates from, that there is a way to get rid of the suffering and it’s causes, and that there is a noble way of practices to be followed that will lead to the cessation of suffering and to a taintless way of being that is no longer bound to the suffering way of life and becoming.

After understanding suffering, the cause of suffering, and the cessation of suffering discussed in parts 1, 2, and 3, the next step is to figure out what the path leading to the ending of suffering is about:

The Fourth Noble Truth points to the Noble Eight-fold Path as the way to work on, applying discipline to one’s actions and the development of wisdom for the mind. Wisdom here means insight into the true reality of things and the understanding of the steps of the Noble Eight-fold Path:

“And what is the way leading to the cessation of suffering?

It is just this ; his Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

This is called the way leading to the cessation of suffering.” — MN I.49

For a detailed examination of the Noble Eight-fold Path, check out the series: The Eightfold Noble Path

The Four Noble Truths are considered un-refuted in the teachings, meaning that they stood the test of time through debate and reasoning with other teachers:

“When it was said: ‘“These are the four noble truths”: this, monks, is the Dhamma taught by me that is un-refuted . . . uncensured by wise ascetics and brahmins,’ for what reason was this said?

with name-and-form as condition, there are the six sense bases;.

with the six sense bases as condition, there is contact;.

with contact as condition, there is feeling..

Now it is for one who feels that I proclaim: ‘This is suffering,’ and ‘This is the origin of suffering,’ and ‘This is the cessation of suffering,’ and ‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering.’” — AN I.175

The goal in the end is not to only deal with suffering in this life time, but to not come back to any state of being [becoming] in a next life:

“When he knows and sees thus, his mind is liberated from

the taint of sensuality

the taint of existence [becoming], and

the taint of ignorance.

When it is liberated there comes the knowledge: ‘[It’s] liberated.’

He understands: ‘Destroyed is birth, the spiritual life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, there is no more coming back to any state of being.’” — AN I.165

Learning the Four Noble Truths is not only for one’s own sake, it is also to encourage others to learn them. To learn for one’s own welfare as well as for the welfare of others:

“Monks, possessing five qualities, a monk is practicing both for his own welfare and for the welfare of others. What five?

(1) Here, a monk is himself accomplished in virtuous behavior and encourages others to become accomplished in virtuous behavior;

(2) he is himself accomplished in concentration and encourages others to become accomplished in concentration;

(3) he is himself accomplished in wisdom and encourages others to become accomplished in wisdom;

(4) he is himself accomplished in liberation and encourages others to become accomplished in liberation;

(5) he is himself accomplished in the knowledge and vision of liberation and encourages others to become accomplished in the knowledge and vision of liberation.

Possessing these five qualities, a bhikkhu is practicing both for his own welfare and for the welfare of others.” — AN III.14

To know the Four Noble Truths is the first step, to see it, attain it, realize, and truly penetrate the realization of it are the follow up steps:

“But, friend, what is it that one has not known, seen, attained, realized, and penetrated?”

“‘This is suffering,’ friend, is what one has not known, seen, attained, realized, and penetrated,

‘This is the origin of suffering’ is what one has not known, seen, attained, realized, and penetrated,

‘This is the cessation of suffering’ is what one has not known, seen, attained, realized, and penetrated,

‘This is the way leading to the cessation of suffering’ is what one has not known, seen, attained, realized, and penetrated, and it is for the purpose of knowing, seeing, attaining, realizing, and penetrating this that one lives the spiritual life under the Blessed One.” — AN IV.385

In the next part we’ll be discussing the Four Noble Truths in conjunction with the things to develop and the things to avoid in practice.

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The First Noble Truth

The Second Noble Truth

The Third Noble Truth

10 Fold Path Series

EATING MEAT — WHY THE BUDDHA WAS NOT A VEGETARIAN

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