A Mutuality Warrior's Take on The Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path by Uriah J. Fields
Rated "G" by the Author.
Last
edited: Thursday, May 22, 2014
Posted: Tuesday, May 20, 2014
More than 2,500 years ago Buddha - Siddhartha Gautama - discovered the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path which provide a way to end suffering.
Benjamin Disraeli said, "Seeing much, suffering much and studying much are the three pillars of learning." Suffering is not a welcome teacher. But as Job learned, suffering can be a master teacher. It is the suffering pillar that is the focus of this discourse on "Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path," which comprise the basic beliefs of Buddhism as created over 2,500 years ago by Buddha - Siddhartha Gautama.
These Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path will be listed and a brief comment on each aimed at aiding in understanding its meaning. Of course, in the inherent purpose of these noble truths and eightfold path is the key to how to manager suffering effectively while advancing toward the cessation of suffering.
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
1. The nature of life is suffering
Some manifestations of suffering are pain, deterioration, decay and dying. Humans usually struggle with these afflictions until death.
2. The origin of suffering is attachment
Even before birth the embryo, child to be, like his mother, suffers. And cutting the umbilical cord at birth does not unattach the newborn from the world where he is connected and prone to suffer.
3. The cessation of suffering is attainable
There is a way to end suffering. The person who would be liberated from suffering must accept this truth, this way.
4. The path of the cessation of suffering The path that leads to the cessation of suffering is the Eightfold Path.
THE EIGHTFOLD PATH
1. Right Understanding
Know the truth about reality. Illusions prevent a person from gaining insights into reality.
2. Right Intention
Have a commitment to end suffering
3. Right Effort
Do something. Do the right thing.
4. Right Speech
Speak truth and express it with humility and compassion.
5. Right Livelihood
Choose the right way to work and be productive in the support of your existence and living.
6. Right Mindfuness
Awareness of the supreme value of now is what it means to be mindful. This consists of living with a heightened consciousness moment by moment.
8. Right Concentration
This is the process of engaging the attention of a person on the single objective of expanding his consciousness while he advances toward the cessation of suffering.
Practicing the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path is the way to manage suffering in a way that causes a person to transcend his heredity, the environment and himself. In doing this he is able to achieve the cessation of suffering by transcending suffering.
The benefit of the cessation of suffering is not just to merely lessen suffering or become free of suffering but rather to enable a person to live creatively, be productive and enjoy life in the Eternal Now.
Addendum
Some 40 years ago I read "If you Meet the Buddha on the Road, Kill Him!" by Sheldon B. Kopp. That book profoundly impacted my life. When I first read it I was director of the Mutuality Center for Creative Living, a Calfornia-style human development center in California. I used this book in conducting self-discovery seminars. Kopp is saying "no meaning outside of ourselves is authentic." Every person is born with the Buddhahood within. It's the essence of the soul. Kopp also says something esle that is important for the truth-seeker, "A grown-up can be no man's disciple" I am glad I experientially applied lessons learned from this book in my living. -ujf
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