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Cornerstone of Buddhism: The Four Noble Truths

Buddhism is a very practical religion that does not promote deification and theology. It is about straightforward and simple truths which, if followed in everyday life, can help people overcome suffering and achieve an inborn sense of happiness. Buddhism is also about respecting other living beings, living peacefully with everyone and being righteous in one’s actions, deeds and thoughts.

Buddha’s teachings are based on what he experienced and learnt before he attained enlightenment. After he achieved enlightenment, he taught people how to arrive at that enlightenment through their own experience and by following some practical teachings. The very nature of Buddhism makes it so different from other religions. Buddhism believes that instead of memorizing certain doctrines and dogmas and following them to the letter, one should realize the truths of life by practicing the Eightfold Path, which is the broad outline of Buddhist practices.

While Buddhism does not encourage blindly following rules and principles, it is important to know the teachings and philosophies of Buddha to understand the discipline that Buddhism is all about. The Four Noble Truths are the very foundation of this.

• Life is suffering
  
• Attachment causes suffering
• To cure suffering, free yourself from attachment
• The eightfold path will show you the way out of suffering

Our next four posts will elaborate on the four truths a little more.

Kacchapa Jataka Tale – Talking Turtle

The Boddhisattva was once a greatly respected advisor to King Brahmadatta, an intelligent but excessively talkative ruler. His advisor often pondered on how to cure the king of this habit without hurting his feelings.

At this time, there lived a turtle in a mountain pond. Two wild ducks looking for food came to the pond and struck up a friendship with the turtle.  

Soon, it was time for the ducks to depart. They invited the turtle along and told him, “Clench the middle of this stick with your mouth and the two of us will lift it from both ends with our beaks. But remember – keep your mouth shut!”

Soon the three were airborne. A few children, spotting the trio, burst out laughing.
“Oh look, look at the turtle dangling between two birds! Doesn’t he look funny?”

The turtle was annoyed and shouted, “What business is it of yours, anyway?” Having opened his mouth, he lost his grip on the stick, plummeted to the ground and died.

The king went with his advisor to see the turtle. The latter guessed at what had happened. He grasped at the opportunity to make his point. “Death by a single sentence – alas! Merely by speaking at the wrong time, this turtle has brought about his own sorry plight.”

“You’re trying to tell me something, aren’t you?” asked the intelligent king.

“Whether it is you or another, great king, mishaps are inevitable for those who cannot control their tongue.”

The king accepted the Boddhisattva’s wisdom and strove to change himself.

Inner quiet, the stilling of our busy minds, is a theme that runs through all the Buddha’s teachings. Excessive talk destroys concentration.  One may have to pay a heavy price for this apparently harmless habit!

Buddha Says

There has to be evil so that good can prove its purity above it

Phala Jataka Tale

Once, the Buddha was born as a wealthy merchant. On a journey with his caravan, he stopped outside a forest through which their route led.

“Beware, my brothers. This forest has many poison trees within. Eat nothing here without consulting me first.”

They nodded agreement and the caravan proceeded through the forest.

Just within the periphery of the forest was a village. On its outskirts grew a What-fruit tree, with an amazing likeness to the mango in trunk, leaves, flowers and fruit. The difference? Its fruit, when eaten, caused death. Some members of the merchant’s caravan, who’d gone ahead, stopped under this tree. They plucked the fruits and began to eat them.

The others, remembering their master’s words, waited for him to catch up. When he arrived, he exclaimed,  “This is no mango! It’s the What-fruit tree, poisonous to the core!”

Immediately, he administered an emetic to the ones who had eaten of it and gave them an antidote; all the men recovered.

What none of them knew was that the villagers living nearby were a conniving lot. Whenever any passers-by stopped to eat the What-fruit and died, the villagers would arrive, loot all their belongings and throw their corpses in a secret grave.

This time too, the villagers came, expecting much booty from the huge caravan. To their shock, all were alive and healthy!

“Why did you not eat the fruits?” they asked the merchant.

He smiled. “When I see a tree near a village, one that’s easy to climb and yet heavy with fruit, what more proof do I need?  I can only conclude that the fruit is poisonous!”

We see the world through the filters of our hopes, desires and expectations. But these emotional elements cloud our perceptions and blind the ‘inner eye’. How imperative it is to have the Right View as preached by the Buddha in the Eightfold Path – open, simple and straightforward!

Jewels of Buddhism: The Eightfold Path

The teachings of Buddhism encourage people to follow a spiritual path that will lead them to the jewels of life – happiness, freedom and enlightenment. The Eightfold Path is actually a set of eight practical guidelines that can not only end the suffering in people’s lives, but also enhance mental strength and conviction about following an ethical way of living. The eight teachings of Buddhism are about simple yet effective truths. They are all interdependent.

Right View: This is the first principle and it teaches people about the right way to see the world.  Often, our view of the world is colored by our expectations, hopes and fears. If we can keep these factors aside and see things as they are without bringing in our feelings, then that is the right view of the world. We need to have an open attitude towards what we see and perceive, and have a simple and straightforward approach to life.

Right Intention: According to this guideline, if we are able to let go of our judgments, hopes, fears and expectations, then we can behave in a straightforward way, instead of being manipulative. An absence of preconceived ideas will ensure that we can accept the reality of things.  This principle will follow naturally if we have right perception.

Right Speech: If our intentions are right, then we do not have to worry about our speech – of what we should speak, how we sound, if we are saying the things people want us to say. Right speech stems naturally from right intention, and happens effortlessly.

Right Action: This guideline urges us to practice simplicity. A person should be kind and not harm anyone, not take something that does not belong to him and not indulge in sexual misconduct. Right action is also about being honest and respectful. Action is a manifestation of thought. With the right view and right intention changes are made at the thought level, and right action follows automatically.

Right Livelihood: This principle emphasizes that livelihood should be earned in a righteous manner and by doing what we like.  Most of the stress in the world is created because of people being stuck in jobs they do not like and spending long hours slogging on something they would rather not do. Often, people wish for jobs that pay better or sound better. Buddha urges people to be sincere in whatever they do and to ensure that their livelihood does not cause harm to others. Right thought and right action will ensure that the right livelihood is chosen.

Right Effort: This guideline is about doing work without aggression or struggle. If we are able to see things as they are, have clear intentions and speech, then putting in the right effort to do what we have to do isn’t difficult. Being aggressive, jealous, pushy or manipulative is ruled out by this principle. Right effort comes effortlessly with right livelihood.

Right Mindfulness: This guideline urges people to be mindful of every detail of the experiences they have. If we are mindful of the way we speak, work or interact with people, then we can be happy. Right effort ensures a stress-free mind, which in turn ensures optimum output in any work that the mind is applied to.

Right Concentration: This guideline is about concentrating on the present and on whatever we are doing at the moment. The philosophy of meditation is based on this fact. Right concentration is a natural outcome of a stress-free mind putting in the right effort.

Buddha Says...

To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others.

Buddha Says...

Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

Buddha Says...

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.

The Moral Code of Buddhism: The Five Precepts

Buddhism is not just a religion, but also a discipline and a way of life that encourages people to follow certain guidelines to help them conquer suffering. Buddha’s teachings are about being peaceful, righteous and thoughtful. The Five Precepts of Buddhism are actually the gist of the teachings and a moral guideline that people can follow. These precepts, if followed, can help people to build up their moral strength and live peacefully with their fellow beings.

Refrain from killing: This teaching is about being non-violent. To live peacefully and harmoniously with and respect others, living beings must not be killed. Approval of killing by others and participation in killing is also considered wrong. This precept is about protecting lives and cultivating an innate kindness towards other beings. Since this teaching advocates non-violence, it also urges people to be vegetarians.

Refrain from stealing: This precept is about respecting other people’s properties and not taking it by stealing or by force. If something hasn’t been given to you, then you have no right to it. Stealing not only applies to material goods, but also to time and effort. You should be responsible and not fritter away someone else’s (e.g., an employer’s) time. This precept also urges people to be generous, kind, sympathetic and respectful to everyone.

Refrain from sexual misconduct: According to the teachings of Buddhism, sexual desire is one of the biggest hurdles to enlightenment and one of the most difficult temptations to overcome. Sexual misconduct like adultery and rape, which cause mental, emotional and physical injury to others, are absolutely forbidden. This precept, like all Buddha’s teachings, urges people to respect others by abstaining from sexual misconduct.

Refrain from lying: Respecting the truth is one of the most important principles of Buddhism. Denying the truth is actually lying, which can create guilt, confusion and disharmony. Buddhists are also asked to keep away from half-truths, exaggeration or understatements and, instead, work on being honest. It is believed that being completely honest with oneself and others will reduce disharmony and misunderstandings in the world.

Refrain from drugs and alcohol: Buddhism places a lot of importance on wisdom. Consuming intoxicants like alcohol and drugs can erode that wisdom and these are also harmful for health. A state of intoxication increases the chances of committing crimes and wrongdoing. It is easier to commit evil deeds or injure others when people are drunk or drugged. It is believed that anyone who breaks this precept will actually be dishonoring all the other precepts.

This precept is about respecting one’s mental health and not relinquishing control of one’s mind. Meditation is important to become more aware and attentive and only a calm mind can meditate. People who observe this precept will lead happy lives.

These practical precepts can be practiced not only by Buddhists, but by anyone who wishes to lead a happy, simple and honest life.

Buddha Says...

You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.