Name – Urmit Shah
PRN - 14060321094
The Four Noble Truths

The Four Noble Truths are: 1. Noble Truth Of Stress (Dukkha) 2. Noble Truth Of The Origination Of Stress (Craving) (Tanha) 3. Noble Truth Of The Cessation Of The Stress (Nirvana) 4. Noble Truth Of The Way Of Practice (Noble Eightfold Path)

Noble Truth Of Stress (Dukkha)

Suffering is the translation of ‘Dukkha’. Buddhism explains three types of Dukkha : 1. Pain (Physical /mental) - It is the sort of feeling that you experience when you fall and hurt yourself. Or the normal headaches that you experience. 2. Dukkha Of Change – This sort of dukkha exists because according to the Buddhist tradition the system is in flux (Constantly changing- Anitya). Even Happiness and laughter are considered to be Dukkha as they are not permanent. 3. Dukkha Of Conditions- The world which we live in is conditioned and we are brought up/moulded according to the conditions. According to Buddhism Samsara is conditioned and that is why there is impermanence.

Noble Truth Of The Origination Of Stress (Craving) (Tanha)
Origin of Dukkha is ‘Craving’(Tanha). Craving can be of three types: 1. Craving for sensual pleasure 2. Craving for existence – It is the craving for eternal life. 3. Craving for non-existence – It is the craving for the end of the life (death/end of all the consciousness)

Craving is different from ‘Want’. Craving according to the Buddhism is faulty but ‘want’ is not. ‘Want’ arises out of a rational action which can be expected to bring a result. We do not intensely desire for the result when it’s a ‘want’. ‘Want’ involves free will. While in the case of the craving irrationality takes place. Craving arises out of external compulsion or working against the will or both of the above.

Craving leads to attachment (Upadana). Four types of attachment: 1. Attachment to the object of sense desire 2. Attachment to the views 3. Attachments to the precepts and vows 4. Attachments to the doctrine of the Self
Attachment leads to the Dukkha as nothing is permanent in this world according to Buddhism. A point to be noted here, Buddhism didn’t take into consideration the time within which the change would take place. It might be the case that a particular change might occur after 100 years. Normal life expectancy is 70 years. Now for the person who died 30 years ago the occurrence of the event , no change took place. If there is no change then the whole concept of Dukkha falls apart.

Craving occurs because of the sensory experiences. Sensory contact is conditioned by the six senses (Buddhism takes mind as a sixth sense). Sensory contact gives rise to feelings. And conditioned by feeling is craving. So, by creating awareness/mindfulness about sensory contact a block can be put in between sensory experience and cravings. Thus it blocks Dukkha and subsequently the rebirths.
Later on there was a shift of interest, the cause behind the craving is said to be the ignorance (Avidya). According to Buddhism ‘Ignorance’ is the first soteriological and conceptual cause. Ignorance is the not-knowingness of the true nature of things. It is the unawareness of the Dharma. Liberation can ultimately be achieved through the gnosis. Gnosis thus becomes the necessary condition for Nirvana. Noble Truth Of The Cessation Of The Stress (Nirvana)
Nirvana is the complete cessation of ignorance which would lead to the cessation of craving and then all sorts of Dukkha. It is the complete and permanent cessation of Samsara. It is not the exactly similar to Brahman or the Absolute reality. Nirvana is not an amoral state. Buddha lived completely free of greed, hatred, and delusion after the attainment of Nirvana. It is in terms living a moral life.
Nirvana is of two types :
Nirvana with a remainder – The person living a life after the attainment of Nirvana. Buddha lived for 40 years after the attainment of Nirvana.
Nirvana without a remainder (Parinirvana) – What happens to the person who dies after the attainment of Nirvana. It is unanswered by Buddha.
Nirvana is described in the negations of the Samsara. It is described in Udana. Nirvana is unconditioned and that is why there is no impermanence there. The only positive statement is that it is a domain.
Noble Truth of the Way of Practice (Noble Eightfold Path)
Noble Eightfold Path is spoken of in the Dhammacakkapavattana Sutta. Buddha found a middle path to attain Nirvana, path between asceticism and the framework of house holding. Asceticism couldn’t lead to liberation/nirvana as the cause of dukkha is ignorance. Moreover it would cause serious distractions in working of the mind.
There are eight elements to the path which Buddha found:

Wisdom 1. Right view: Right view is looking at the things the way they really are as described through the four noble truths. It comes under wisdom (One of the three major divisions of the Buddhist path). 2. Right Intention – It is the intention which is free from worldly pleasures, greed and it should be accompanied by kindness and compassion. It comes under wisdom too.
Morality
3. Right Speech – It shouldn’t be false, hurtful or meaningless talks. It might include the talks about metaphysical matters too. As they don’t help in achieving the goal which is nirvana.

4. Right Action – Not harming living beings, refraining from sexual misconduct and not stealing.

5. Right Livelihood – Livelihood shouldn’t involve infringement of Right Speech and Right action.
Meditation
6. Right Effort – It consists of effort to prevent the arising of unwholesome mental states and which haven’t been arisen yet and effort to quit the unwholesome states which are there. It also includes effort to develop and promote wholesome states which have not arisen.

7. Right mindfulness – It is constant awareness of the surrounding, feelings, body. Being aware of the moments and their impermanence. And making sure that they don’t turn into craving.

8. Right concentration – Right concentration is the one pointedness of the mind. It can be taken to four meditation levels (dhyanas).