The Four Noble Truths

Duhkhasatya : The Truth of dukkha.

The first truth is generally translated as "Life is suffering", but perhaps more appropriately as "Life is painfully out of balance". Dukkha was a word used to refer to a wheel whose axle was off-center. The Buddha named four specific points in life where this pain is most evident: birth, illness, old age, and the fear approaching death. He also added: to be separated from what one loves, and to be saddled with what one hates.



Samudayasatya : The Truth of the Cause.

The second truth is that the cause of dukkha is tanha, or "thirst". Tanha is also generally translated as "desire", but "thirst" suggests that it is meant more specifically, as "personal desire". The desire for private fulfillment causes actions at the expense of others. It interferes with the oneness of all things, leads to ignorance, and brings suffering.



Nirodhasatya : The Truth of Cessation

The third truth declares that a nirodha, or "cessation" of the cravings can be attained. When selfish cravings, ignorance, and hatred are overcome, balance will be restored to life.



Mârgasatya : The Truth of the Way or Path

The fourth truth describes that a mârga, "path" or "way" exists to overcome the tanha (cravings). The Eightfold Path is the middle way which lies between the extremes of asceticism and indulgence.

The Eightfold path

1) Right Understanding (knowledge, vision)

Seeing the world as it is. Understand the nature of the quest, and the four noble truths.



2) Right Resolve (aspiration)

Know where you are going. Decide what it is that you want.



3) Right Word (speech)

Attention to language. Speech should be truthful, charitable, and tactful.



4) Right Action (behavior, conduct)

The Five Precepts: avoid taking life, taking what is not given, inappropriate sexual relations, false speech, and inappropriate intoxication.



5) Right Livelihood (means of subsistance)

We spend most of our time at our jobs, so it'ss important that our jobs do not conflict with how we would choose to act. A job which requires or causes you to act other than how you would choose will hinder you on your path.



6) Right Effort (application)

Continued intent. A single-minded, unfailing effort needs to be put towards the path.



7) Right Mindfullness (intellectual activity, presence of mind)

An understanding of the self and reality. Gaining an ability to think as you would choose. Not being controlled by your thoughts.



8) Right Meditation (concentration, positioning of the psyche)

Control over the mind. Choose who you want to be and be it.



Makes prity good sense, no?

I love Buddhism.

...It makes me want to put robes on and shave my head...

You think I'm kiddin'?

The only religion that can survive science is Buddhism.

If you were ask the Buddha, "When and how was the universe created?"

He would reply, "Ask a scientist."

quote:Originally posted by SmokeWhiskey:

If you were ask the Buddha, "When and how was the universe created?"

He would reply, "Ask a scientist."

What do those damn scientists know with their fancy "credentials"...

Buddhists are worse than fundy Christians in their fanaticism.

[This message has been edited by napoleon_complex (edited 07-02-2005).]

quote:Originally posted by napoleon_complex:

Buddhists are worse than fundy Christians in their fanaticism.





O K

quote:Originally posted by napoleon_complex:

Buddhists are worse than fundy Christians in their fanaticism.



Um, how's that?

I've been wanting to learn about Bhuddism, so I'll take this as my chance.

"The second truth is that the cause of dukkha is tanha, or 'thirst.'"

What exactly is dukkha? Maybe I missed the explanation of this, but I don't see one -- I'm assuming it means 'suffering', basically?

"Gaining an ability to think as you would choose. Not being controlled by your thoughts."

What exactly does this mean?

I understood the rest, pretty much. I think this topic deserves that I go and google it for some info.. I've had an interest in Bhuddism for a while.

Thanks ahead of time,

Hippie

quote: dukkha

No single English word adequately captures the full depth, range, and subtlety of the crucial Pali term dukkha. Over the years, many translations of the word have been used ("stress," "unsatisfactoriness," "suffering," etc.). Each has its own merits in a given context. There is value in not letting oneself get too comfortable with any one particular translation of the word, since the entire thrust of Buddhist practice is the broadening and deepening of one's understanding of dukkha until dukkha's roots are finally exposed and eradicated once and for all. One helpful rule of thumb: as soon as you think you've found the single best translation for the word, think again: for no matter how you describe dukkha, it's always deeper, subtler, and more unsatisfactory than that.

Duykkha can be 'kind of' controlled over a period of time where you can decide for your self how Dukkha is for you. What i mean is that the understanding of one's inner self leads to Dukkha no longer being in ones life, leading to calm, patient nature.

"as soon as you think you've found the single best translation for the word, think again: for no matter how you describe dukkha, it's always deeper, subtler, and more unsatisfactory than that. "

Great explanations from both of you -- Thanks.

Buddhism's next step is Raelian apparently, a religion based on science without a God.

http://www.rael.org/rael_content/index.php?elan=English

Its really weird though, buddhists might wanna check it out, you have to be open minded though lol.

Just for the record I'm not Raelian.

quote:Originally posted by Silly Stick:

Buddhism's next step is Raelian apparently, a religion based on science without a God.

http://ww w.rael.org /rael_content/index.php?elan=English (http: //www.rael .org/rael_ content/in dex.php?el an=English )

Its really weird though, buddhists might wanna check it out, you have to be open minded though lol.

Just for the record I'm not Raelian.

I can see where you're coming from with this, but Raelian and Buddhist beliefs don't really jive. Raelians expect aliens to one day teach humanity (or for us to learn on our own) how to upload our minds into machines to achieve immortality. This would be hell to a Buddhist; Trapped forever in samsara (the cycle of suffering) and unable to enter final nirvana or even die.

Any kind of 'self' existence is suffering, even heaven. But 'no-self' is unacceptable as well, so, nirvana is an indescribable middle ground.

Also, Buddhism isn't necessarily religion without God. That judgement is being held until more evidence presents itself. However, it's clear to any rational mind that no just (and therefore worthy of reverence) God would punish or reward eternally for 60 or 70 years of belief in one thing or another. The Buddha said we are responsible for our salvation and we should work diligently toward it; God need not (and would not) come into the equation of sentient life's escape from samsara.

quote:Originally posted by Silly Stick:

Buddhism's next step is Raelian apparently, a religion based on science without a God.

http://ww w.rael.org /rael_content/index.php?elan=English (http: //www.rael .org/rael_ content/in dex.php?el an=English )

Its really weird though, buddhists might wanna check it out, you have to be open minded though lol.

Just for the record I'm not Raelian.

Yeah, that seems sort of crazy to me.

Pretty far from Buddhism...

Well, I'm not an expert on Buddhism in any sense, but the guy who founded Raelian claims to be the prophet from the west called the maiterya who was prophesised to come from the land of the rooster (he's from france)he got the message from the aliens in 1973 which is the buddhist year 3000. Thats the only reason I said it's apparently Buddhisims next step.

quote:Originally posted by Silly Stick:

Buddhism's next step is Raelian apparently, a religion based on science without a God.

http://ww w.rael.org /rael_content/index.php?elan=English (http: //www.rael .org/rael_ content/in dex.php?el an=English )

Its really weird though, buddhists might wanna check it out, you have to be open minded though lol.

Just for the record I'm not Raelian.

Its not really godless, but "aleins" are our "god" if I remember right. With this theory it would explain all the religens that I can think of. But I feel that it lacks something but I can't put my finger on it...

The great thing about buddhism to me is I discovered it and thats how it's supposed to be.

Through shrooms and weed and meditation I came up with a bunch of my own beliefs. Then I started reading about buddhism and it went almost exactly hand in hand with my beliefs. That is how the buddha said you should discover it, but creating your own beliefs, not just following some.

So buddhism in my book gets a zillion points. For everything it is worth.

I generally subscribe to beliefs closely related to Buddhism.

It just fits.

quote:Originally posted by HeeT:

The great thing about buddhism to me is I discovered it and thats how it's supposed to be.

Through shrooms and weed and meditation I came up with a bunch of my own beliefs. Then I started reading about buddhism and it went almost exactly hand in hand with my beliefs. That is how the buddha said you should discover it, but creating your own beliefs, not just following some.

So buddhism in my book gets a zillion points. For everything it is worth.

Yeah, me too. After I realized Xianity just wasn't right, I kinda floated around, figuring out for myself what I believed. What I believed turned out to be almost verbatim to Buddhist beliefs. I had heard of the Eightfold path and such in junior high but it was just the devil's talk to my thirteen year old indoctrinated mind. Now that I've armed myself with logic and rationality, I can't see myself believing anything but the Way.

quote:Originally posted by SmokeWhiskey:

Now that I've armed myself with logic and rationality, I can't see myself believing anything but the Way.



Also, for me at least, it's not so much a belief, as much as an acceptance. Kind of like the Tao, in understanding Buddhism, I felt that I really started accepting it's truths rather than "believing", if that makes an sense?

I'm thinking about becoming Buddhist. e-mail-Sanity0verRated@gmail.com

quote:Originally posted by hungryhippie:

I've been wanting to learn about Bhuddism, so I'll take this as my chance.

"The second truth is that the cause of dukkha is tanha, or 'thirst.'"

What exactly is dukkha? Maybe I missed the explanation of this, but I don't see one -- I'm assuming it means 'suffering', basically?

That's easy. People feel sad when they don't get what they want. If they never wanted anything, they wouldn't be sad, or feel like they're suffering.

quote:Originally posted by napoleon_complex:

Buddhists are worse than fundy Christians in their fanaticism.



Buddhists don't try to spread their book around the world by coming to your door dressed like fags. They also don't go around the world killing to recapture "holy lands" and spreading the "good book." They also don't delve into scientific matters like Christians. Goddamnit, I hate Christians who don't believe evolution. It's so well-founded and scientifically sound. It's just ludicrous.