Download The Four Noble Truths

The Four
Noble Truths
Life
is full
of
suffering
and sorrow
Caused by
greed and
desire for
power,
pleasure,
and
possessions
Suffering
and sorrow
will end
when
people
reach
Nirvana
Nirvana
reached by
following the
Middle Way
or the
Eightfold
Path
Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths:
1. Human life is full of suffering and sorrow
2. Suffering and sorrow are caused by people’s
greedy desire for power, pleasure and
possessions
3. Suffering and sorrow will end when people
overcome their greed = Nirvana = enlightenment
4. People can overcome their greed and
uncontrolled desires by adopting the Middle Way
or Eightfold Path
Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths:
Human life is full of suffering and sorrow
We distract ourselves from what we are and can be
Buddha specifies six occasions when life's
distraction is evident to anyone, rich or poor:
(1) the shock of birth
(2) the causes and effects of sickness
(3) the increasing rate of old age
Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths:
Human life is full of suffering and sorrow
We distract ourselves from what we are and can be
Buddha specifies six occasions when life's
distraction is evident to anyone, rich or poor:
(4) the unreasonable fear of death
(5) to be tied to what one hates
(6) to be separated from what one loves
Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths:
Suffering and sorrow are caused by people’s greedy
desire for power, pleasure and possessions
The cause of life's dislocation is the excessive
concern for self fulfillment.
Buddha did not advocate the extinction of all desire
(e.g., the desire for liberation or the desire for the
welfare of other human beings).
Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths:
Suffering and sorrow are caused by people’s greedy
desire for power, pleasure and possessions
Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths:
Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths:
Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths:
Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths:
Suffering and sorrow are caused by people’s greedy
desire for power, pleasure and possessions
In a group photograph, we look for our own picture
first.
Where is the person who would sacrifice his loved
ones for the sake of ending world hunger?
Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths:
Suffering and sorrow will end when people
overcome their greed = Nirvana = enlightenment
If the cause of life's dislocation is selfish wanting,
then its cure lies in the overcoming of selfish
wanting.
Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths:
People can overcome their greed and uncontrolled
desires by adopting the Middle Way or Eightfold
Path
The program offering specific steps to overcome
excessive selfish wanting is given as the Eightfold
Path.
Preliminary Step is right association: Training for a
life of the spirit is made less difficult if you can be
with others who seek the same things.
Right View
Buddhism
The Eightfold Path or Middle Way:
Human life is full of suffering and sorrow
1. Right View or Understanding:
• The existence of suffering and pain due to greed
and the desire for power, pleasure, and
possessions
• Everything is temporary and changes
• There is no separate individual self—We are all
part of one
Right View
Right Resolve
Buddhism
The Eightfold Path or Middle Way:
Human life is full of suffering and sorrow
2. Right Resolve or Determination:
• Give up what is wrong and evil
• Undertake what is good
• Abandon thoughts having to do with bringing
suffering to any being
• Cultivate thoughts of loving kindness based on
caring for others’ suffering and joy in others’
happiness
Right View
Right Resolve
Right Speech
Buddhism
The Eightfold Path or Middle Way:
Human life is full of suffering and sorrow
3. Right Speech:
•Abstain from telling lies
•Abstain from talk that brings harm or discredit to
others
Buddhism
The Eightfold Path or Middle Way:
3. Right Speech continued:
•Abstain from talk that creates hatred or disharmony
between individuals or groups
•Abstain from harsh, rude, impolite or abusive
language
•Abstain from idle, useless, and foolish gossip
•Practice kindly speech, meaningful speech, and
harmonious speech
Right View
Right Resolve
Right Speech
Right Conduct
Buddhism
The Eightfold Path or Middle Way:
Suffering and sorrow are caused by people’s
greedy desire for power, pleasure and
possessions
4. Right Conduct or Action:
•Abstain from dishonest dealings
•Foster what is good, peaceful, and honorable
•Do things that are moral and honest and that end
suffering
Right View
Right Resolve
Right Speech
Right Conduct
Right Livelihood
Buddhism
The Eightfold Path or Middle Way:
Suffering and sorrow are caused by people’s greedy
desire for power, pleasure and possessions
5. Right Livelihood:
•Abstain from making your living from activities or
occupations that bring harm and suffering to humans
or animals
Right View
Right Resolve
Right Speech
Right Effort
Right Conduct
Right Livelihood
Buddhism
The Eightfold Path or Middle Way:
People can overcome their greed and uncontrolled
desires by adopting the Middle Way or Eightfold
Path
6. Right Effort:
•Foster good and prevent evil
•Work on yourself—engage in self-improvement
•Everything must be done with a sense of proper
balance between trying too hard and not trying hard
enough
Right View
Right Resolve
Right Speech
Right Mindfulness
Right Effort
Right Conduct
Right Livelihood
Buddhism
The Eightfold Path or Middle Way:
People can overcome their greed and
uncontrolled desires by adopting the
Middle Way or Eightfold Path
7. Right Mindfulness:
•Build right attention
•Avoid whatever clouds your mental awareness
•Systematically and intentionally develop awareness
Right View
Right Meditation
Right Resolve
Right Speech
Right Mindfulness
Right Effort
Right Conduct
Right Livelihood
Buddhism
The Eightfold Path or Middle Way:
People can overcome their greed and
uncontrolled desires by adopting the
Middle Way or Eightfold Path
8. Right Concentration:
•Developed by practicing meditation
•Meditation must be done continuously
•Meditation should include awareness of body,
emotions, thought, and mind objects
Buddhism
Eightfold Path Summary
1. Right Knowledge (Views)
Axioms of the Good Life
Wisdom
2. Right Aspiration (Resolution)
3. Right Speech
4. Right Behavior (Action)
Ethical Conduct
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Absorption (Concentration)
Mental Discipline
Right View
Right Meditation
Right Resolve
Right Speech
Right Mindfulness
Right Effort
Right Conduct
Right Livelihood
Buddhism
Five Basic Precepts of Buddhism:
1. Abstain from killing living beings—practice
love
2. Abstain from taking the not-given—practice
generosity and giving
3. Abstain from sexual misconduct—practice
contentment
4. Abstain from false speech—practice
truthfulness
5. Abstain from taking intoxicating
substances—practice awareness and
mental clarity
Theravada Buddhism
 The oldest school of Buddhism.
 The “Way of the Elders” or the
“Small Vehicle.”
 Found in southern Asia.
 The monastic life is the best way
to achieve nirvana.
Theravada Buddhism
 Focus on wisdom and meditation.
 Goal is to become a “Buddha,”
or “Enlightened One.”
 Over 100,000,000 followers today
Theravada Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism
 The “Great Vehicle.”
 Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).
 Buddhism “for the masses.”
 Seek guidance from Boddhisatvas, wise
beings.
 Goal: Not just individual escape from the
wheel, but the salvation of all humanity
through self-sacrifice of those enlightened
few.
Mahayana Buddhism