The First Noble Truth: This & such indeed is Suffering!!!
The blessed Buddha once said:
One should dwell reflecting on all phenomena as mental states in the light
of these Four Noble Truths. How does one do so?
Here, one sees, understands, and knows it as it verily is:
This and such is suffering! craving is the cause & origin of all suffering!
This absence of craving is the ceasing of all suffering!
This Noble 8-fold Way is the method to terminate all suffering!
And what, bhikkhus, is this 1st Noble Truth of Suffering?
Birth is suffering, ageing is suffering, decay is suffering, death is suffering,
sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and discontent are suffering, being joined
with any disliked is suffering, being separated from any liked is suffering, not
getting what one wants is suffering, & getting what one not wants is suffering,
in short, the five clusters of clinging are suffering …!!! …!!!
And what, bhikkhus, is birth?
In whatever being & group of individuality, there is birth, coming into being,
emergence, appearance, manifestation of the 5 clusters clusters of clinging,
development of the ability to sense, that, bhikkhus, is called birth…
And what, bhikkhus, is ageing?
In whatever being & group of individuality, there is ageing, decaying, broken
teeth, grey hair, wrinkled skin, shrinking & fading away, weakening of the
ability to sense, that, bhikkhus, is called ageing…
And what, bhikkhus, is death?
In whatever being & group of individuality, there is a passing away, cutting off,
disappearance, death, dying, an ending, a breaking-up of the clusters, a loss of
the body, a loss of the mind, that, bhikkhus, is called death…
And what, bhikkhus, is sorrow?
Whenever, by any kind of tragedy, anyone is feeling pain, sorrow, frustration,
distress, internal misery, or internal sadness, that bhikkhus, is called sorrow…
And what, bhikkhus, is lamentation?
Whenever, by any kind of misfortune, anyone is affected by something painful
and there is crying out, grieving, moaning, wailing and weeping, that, bhikkhus,
is called lamentation…
And what is pain?
Whatever bodily painful feeling, bodily unpleasant feeling, painful or unpleasant
feeling resulting from bodily contact, that, bhikkhus is called pain…
And what, bhikkhus, is sadness?
Whatever mental painful feeling, mental unpleasant feeling, painful or unpleasant
sensation resulting from mental contact, that, bhikkhus, is called sadness…
And what, bhikkhus, is discontent?
Whenever, by any kind of anguish, anyone is affected by some disappointment,
dissatisfaction, discomfort, dismay, uneasiness, frustration, that, bhikkhus, is
called discontent…
And what bhikkhus, is being joined with the disliked?
Here whoever has unwanted, undesirable and disliked sights, sounds, smells, tastes,
touches or mental states, or whoever meets enemies wishing them unhappy insecurity,
with whom they are forced into association, connection, dependence, grouping with,
that, bhikkhus, is called being joined with the disliked…
And what is being separated from the liked?
Here whoever has what is wanted, liked, pleasant sights, sounds, smells, tastes,
touches or mental states, or whoever enjoys company of well-wishers of good,
of comfort & security, mother or father, brother or sister, younger or elders,
friends or colleagues, and then is loosing this company, connection, or union,
that, bhikkhus is called being separated from the liked…
And what, bhikkhus, is not getting what one wants & getting what one not wants?
In beings subject to birth, ageing, decay, sickness & death, bhikkhus, this wish
arises: Oh may we not meet any birth, ageing, decay, sickness & death. But such
cannot be gained by naive wishing. In beings prone to sorrow lamentation, pain,
sadness, stress & frustration this childish wish arises: Oh may we not be afflicted
by any sorrow lamentation, pain, sadness, stress nor frustration, despite none such
ever can be won by mere wishing. That is not getting what one wants while getting
what one not wants…
And what, bhikkhus, in brevity, are the five clusters of clusters of clinging?
The five clusters of clusters of clinging are as follows:
The cluster of clinging to form,
The cluster of clinging to feeling,
The cluster of clinging to perception,
The cluster of clinging to mental constructions,
The cluster of clinging to kinds of consciousness.
These are, in short, the five clusters of clusters of clinging that are suffering.
And that, bhikkhus, is called the 1st Noble Truth of Suffering…
The Second Noble Truth: craving is the Cause of Suffering!!!
The blessed Buddha once said:
One should dwell reflecting on all phenomena as mental states in the light
of these Four Noble Truths. How does one do so?
Here, one sees, understands, and knows this as it verily is:
This and such is suffering!
This craving is the cause & origin of all suffering!
This absence of craving is the ceasing of all suffering!
This Noble 8-fold Way is the method to eradicate all suffering!
And what, monks, is the 2nd Noble Truth on the Cause of Suffering?
It is that craving, which gives rise to rebirth, drenched with lust and greed,
finding fresh attraction first here, then there: that is to say sensual craving,
craving for becoming into existence, & craving for non-becoming into existence.
And where does this craving arise and manifest itself?
Wherever in the world there is anything attractive and pleasant, it is right there
and right then, on the very spot, that this craving arises and manifests itself…
And what is there in this world, that is attractive and pleasant?
The eye, in this world, is attractive and pleasant, the ear, the nose, the tongue,
the body, the mind is attractive and pleasant, and there this craving arises and
puts down it’s roots. Sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and mental states
are attractive and amusing, and there this craving emerges & establishes itself.
Eye-consciousness, ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness,
body-consciousness, mental-consciousness in this world is attractive & alluring,
and there this craving come up and implants itself. Eye-contact, ear-contact,
nose-contact, tongue-contact, body-contact, mental-contact in this world is
attractive and tempting, and there this craving begins and reveals itself.
Any feeling born of eye-contact, ear-contact, nose-contact, tongue- contact,
body-contact, mind-contact in the world is appealing & fascinating, and right
there this craving occurs and installs itself. The perception and experience of
any sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles, & thoughts is quite interesting and
captivating, and there this craving arises & imbibes itself. Intention, wishing,
wanting and hoping for certain sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, thoughts,
ideas and mental states is enthralling & intriguing, and there this craving arises
and substantiates itself. The craving itself, the drive, push & rush for various
sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles, & many mental-objects in this world is
attractive and seductive, and there this craving also arises & consolidates itself.
Thinking of any sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles, and mental-objects in
this world is attractive & tantalizing, thus this craving arises & manifests itself.
Prolonged pondering on certain sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles and the
manifold diversity of mental objects in this world is attractive and enticing, and
there this craving also arises and manifests, establishes and enhances itself…
And that, bhikkhus, is called the 2nd Noble Truth on the Cause of Suffering…
The Third Noble Truth: Cessation of Craving Stops Suffering!!!
The blessed Buddha once said:
One should dwell reflecting on all phenomena as mental states in the light
of these Four Noble Truths. How does one do so?
Here, one sees, understands, and knows this as it verily is:
This and such is suffering!
This craving is the cause & origin of all suffering!
This absence of craving is the ceasing of all suffering!
This Noble 8-fold Way is the method to eradicate all suffering!
And what, monks, is the 3rd Noble Truth on the ceasing of Suffering?
It is the complete fading away, ceasing, elimination, & eradication of all craving.
It is the relinquishing release from craving, the detaching liberation from craving.
And how is such freeing removal of craving, how is such ceasing of craving gained?
Wherever in the world there is anything attractive and pleasant, it is right there
and right then, on the spot, that this craving is deliberately left behind & ceases…
And what is there in this world, that is attractive and pleasant?
The eye, in this world, is attractive and pleasant, the ear, the nose, the tongue,
the body, the mind is attractive and pleasant, and there this craving ceases and
gradually fades away. Sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, and mental states
are attractive & amusing, & there this craving ceases & bit by bit comes to an end.
Eye-consciousness, ear-consciousness, nose-consciousness, tongue-consciousness,
body-consciousness, mental-consciousness in this world is attractive & alluring,
and there this craving ceases and finally finish. All Eye-contact, ear-contact,
nose-contact, tongue-contact, body-contact, mental-contact in this world is
attractive and tempting, and there this craving ceases and slowly leave off.
Any feeling born of eye-contact, ear-contact, nose-contact, tongue- contact,
body-contact, mind-contact in the world is appealing & fascinating, and right
there this craving ceases and steadily die away. The perception and experience
of any sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles, & thoughts is quite interesting
and captivating, and there this craving ceases & grows dim. Intention, wishing,
wanting and hoping for certain sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches, thoughts,
ideas and mental states is enthralling & intriguing, and there this craving ceases
and dissolves itself. The craving itself, the drive, push & rush for various sights,
sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles, & many mental-objects in this world is attractive
and seductive, and there this craving also ceases & progressively eliminates itself.
Thinking of any sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles, and mental-objects in this
world is attractive & tantalizing, there this craving ceases & falls off drop by drop.
Prolonged pondering on certain sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles & the manifold
diversity of mental objects in this world is attractive & enticing, & there this craving
also fades away, is stilled, ceases, & is finally all eliminated…
And that, bhikkhus, is called the 3rd Noble Truth on the ceasing of Suffering…
The Fourth Noble Truth: The Noble 8-fold Way ceases Suffering!!!
The blessed Buddha once said:
One should dwell reflecting on all phenomena as mental states in the light of these
Four Noble Truths. How does one do so? Here, one sees, understands, and knows this
as it verily and really is:
This is suffering!
Craving is causing all this suffering!
Absence of craving ceases all suffering!
This Noble 8-fold Way is the method to cease all suffering!
And what, bhikkhus & friends, is this Noble Truth of the Way to Cease all Suffering?
It is just this Noble 8-fold Way, namely:
Right View (sammā-ditthi)
Right Motivation (sammā-sankappa)
Right Speech (sammā-vācā)
Right Action (sammā-kammanta)
Right Livelihood (sammā-ājīva)
Right Effort (sammā-vāyāma)
Right Awareness (sammā-sati)
Right Concentration (sammā-samādhi)
And what, bhikkhus & friends, is Right View?
It is, bhikkhus & friends, knowing such is suffering, such is the cause of suffering,
knowing such is the ceasing of suffering, and knowing such is the way leading to the
cessation of suffering. This is called Right View…
And what, bhikkhus & friends, is Right Motivation?
Being motivated by withdrawal, by good-will, and being motivated by utter harmlessness.
This, bhikkhus & friends, is called Right Motivation…
And what, bhikkhus & friends, is Right Speech?
Refraining from any lying, from slandering, from scolding, & refraining from empty gossip.
This is called Right Speech…
And what, bhikkhus & friends, is Right Action?
Refraining from all killing, from all stealing & cheating, and avoiding all sexual misconduct.
This is called Right Action…
And what, bhikkhus & friends, is Right Livelihood?
Here, bhikkhus & friends, the Noble Disciple, having given up wrong livelihood, lives by
right livelihood. This is called Right Livelihood…
And what, bhikkhus & friends, is Right Effort?
Here, bhikkhus & friends, one makes a decision, makes an effort, stirs up energy, exerts
the mind and strives to prevent the arising of unarisen evil disadvantageous mental states.
One makes a decision…and strives to overcome any evil disadvantageous mental state that
already have arisen. One makes a decision… and strives to develop unarisen advantageous
mental states. One makes a decision, makes an effort, stirs up energy, exerts the mind and
strives to maintain any advantageous mental states that already have arisen, not letting
them fade away, growing them greater, to the fulfilled perfection of development.
This is called Right Effort…
And what, bhikkhus & friends, is Right Awareness?
Here, bhikkhus & friends, a monk dwells considering the body as a group of mere form,
alert, clearly comprehending & aware, thereby putting aside worldly urge and trouble…
One dwells considering feelings just as assigned passing mental responses, alert, clearly
comprehending and aware, thereby putting aside much worldly urge and troubles…
One dwells considering mind & mentality just as ever changing moods, alert, clearly
comprehending and aware, thereby putting aside more worldly urge and trouble…
One dwells considering all phenomena only as always shifting mental states, alert,
clearly comprehending and aware, thereby putting aside all worldly urge & trouble….
This is called Right Awareness…
And what, bhikkhus & friends, is Right Concentration?
Here, secluded from sensual desires, protected from any detrimental mental state,
one enters & dwells in the 1st jhana; full of Joy & pleasure born of solitude, joined
with directed & sustained thought.
Again, with the stilling of directed & sustained thought, one enters & dwells in the
2nd jhana, calmed and assured unification of mind, in Joy & pleasure now born of a
concentration, which is devoid of any thought!
Again, friends, with the fading away of joy, one dwells in equanimity, just aware & clearly
comprehending, still feeling pleasure in the body, one enters upon & remains in the 3rd jhana,
regarding which the Noble Ones declare: ‘In aware Equanimity one dwells in pleasure!’
Again, friends, with the leaving behind of both pleasure and pain, & with the prior fading
away of both Joy & sorrow, one enters & dwells in the 4th jhana; a serene mental state of
still, open and clear awareness, purified by the Equanimity of neither-pain-nor-pleasure!
This is called Right Concentration…
And that, bhikkhus & friends, is called the Way leading all to the Ceasing of Suffering…
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