The Four Noble Truths

by Ajahn Sumedho | 2004 | 22,385 words

A collection of talks dealing with understanding and practicing the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths refer to a basic concept within Buddhism. In short, they refer to: dukkha (“suffering”); samudaya (“arising”); nirodha (“cessation”); marga (“the path”)....

Chapter 1 - The First Noble Truth

- Sub-Contents: (+ / -)

What is the Noble Truth of Suffering?
Birth is suffering, ageing is suffering, sickness is suffering,
dissociation from the loved is suffering,
not to get what one wants is suffering:
in short the five categories affected by clinging are suffering.
There is this Noble Truth of Suffering:
such was the vision, insight, wisdom, knowing, light
that arose in me about things not heard before.
This Noble Truth must be penetrated by fully understanding suffering:
such was the vision, insight, wisdom, knowing, and light
that arose in me about things not heard before.
This Noble Truth has been penetrated by fully understanding suffering:
such was the vision, insight, wisdom, knowing, and light that arose in me about things not heard before.

[Samyutta Nikaya, LVI, 11]

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