Author: Mehrullah Azizi
An Analysis of the History and Beliefs of Buddhism (part 12)
Teachings of Buddhism
1. The Four Noble Truths
The Four Noble Truths are among the most important and fundamental teachings of Buddhism. According to followers of this religion, the Buddha declared them after attaining the highest level of enlightenment. These four truths represent the Buddhist worldview, whose ultimate goal is to liberate human beings from the cycle of suffering and repeated rebirth.
In Buddhist teachings, many alterations and distortions have occurred over time, as these teachings were not written down for several centuries. Therefore, among Buddhists, the only universally accepted teachings are the Four Noble Truths, which are derived from the Buddha’s discourses.
These four truths form the core of the Buddha’s famous sermon in the city of “Benares” (modern-day Varanasi), and Buddhists regard them as a precious spiritual treasure.
The Buddha says: “O monks, this is the noble truth of suffering: birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, and death is suffering. Association with the unpleasant is suffering, separation from the pleasant is suffering. In short, the five aggregates of attachment are suffering—the fivefold clinging that constitutes the ‘self’: form, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness.
And this, O monks, is the noble truth of the origin of suffering: it is craving—craving that leads to rebirth, accompanied by pleasure and desire; craving for sensual pleasure, craving for existence, and craving for non-existence.
And this, O monks, is the noble truth of the cessation of suffering: suffering ceases when that craving is completely destroyed, renounced, and fully released.
And this, O monks, is the noble truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering: it is the Noble Eightfold Path, consisting of right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.” [1]
Thus, the Four Noble Truths derived by followers of Buddhism from this teaching are as follows:
First Truth: Suffering exists.
Birth, aging, illness, death, separation from loved ones, and encountering enemies—all bring suffering.
Second Truth: Suffering has a cause.
The cause of suffering is desire and craving, which generate attachment to pleasure, possession, and future longing.
Third Truth: Suffering can be ended.
Suffering ends when desires are extinguished and craving is completely removed.
Fourth Truth: There is a path to end suffering.
The only way to end suffering is by following the Noble Eightfold Path, which consists of:
1. Right view
2. Right intention
3. Right speech
4. Right action
5. Right livelihood
6. Right effort
7. Right mindfulness
8. Right concentration
According to the Buddha, these eight principles can bring an end to all suffering, hardship, and the cycle of rebirth.
Buddhism divides this Eightfold Path into three stages:
1. First stage: Commitment to Buddhist ethics, including right understanding, right conduct, and lawful livelihood.
2. Second stage: Mental discipline through meditation and related practices, which includes right effort, right thought, and right concentration.
3. Third stage: Enlightenment and realization of truth, which includes right view and right intention.
They consider these three stages like steps of a ladder through which a Buddhist ascends toward “Nirvana,” and none of these stages can replace another. [3]
To be continued…
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References:
[1]. Buddhism: Its Origin and Major Beliefs, p. 456.
[2]. Ahmad al-Shalabi, The Major Religions of India, p. 157.
[3]. Nomsok, Buddhism, pp. 263–264.
