The Four Noble Truths Flashcards
1
Q
The four noble truths
A
- explain why people suffer and how they can end that suffering
- contain essense of the buddhas teachings
- discovered by buddha while he searched for enlightenment under the pepul tree
- first teachings given to 5 ascetics
- for theravada buddhists fully understanding 4 noble truths leads to enlightenment
2
Q
what are the 4 noble truths
A
- there is suffering - dukkha
- suffering has a cause - samudaya
- suffering can come to an end - nirodha
- there is a means to bring suffering to an end - magga
3
Q
noble truths explaned using idea of ilness
A
- doctor establishes thay u have an ilness
- he finds the cause
- tells u the cause
- u undergo treatment that makes u feel better
4
Q
what is the first noble truth
A
- is that suffering (dukkha) exists and is something everyone experiences
- suffering is part of life, accepting this is the first step to overcoming it
- do not take part in temporary pleasures and dont try and run away from suffering instead accept that its part of life
5
Q
‘some people think that focusing on suffering is pessimistic’ list counter argument
A
- buddhas teachings not pessimistic but realistic as suffering effect everyone
- suffering DOES HAVE AN END which can be reached by following the buddhist path
- reflecting on suffering helps people to understand what is truly important and to connect with others
6
Q
What is the second noble truth?
A
- cause of suffering/explains why people suffer
- teaches that one of main causes of suffering is tanha(craving)
- understanding why people suffer is important if suffering is to be reduced
7
Q
what are the 3 main types of craving?
A
- sensory craving - craving things that please the senses e.g craving chocolate
- craving for being - wanting to become something u are not like wanting to become more intelligent
- craving fpr non-being - wanting to stop experiencing something e.g. not wanting to feel pain
8
Q
craving and attachment leads to suffering because
A
- things ate everchanging or may dissapear
- so attachment leads to suffering
- temporary pleasure that people crave cannot lead or make them feel permenantely happy
9
Q
identify 3 posions
A
- greed or desire (cockerel) - refers to selfishness, desire, attachment, and grasping for happiness and satisfaction outside of ourselves
- hatred or anger (represented by a snake) - our loathing and disgust toward unpleasant people, circumstances and sometimes towards ourselves
- ignorance (represented by pig) - refers to our stupidity, confusion, and wrong interpretation of things; our wrong views of reality
10
Q
what are the three poisons
A
- cause human suffering
- they are the source of unquenchable thirst of possession and root cause of harmful illusions
- poisons fill life with suffering, unhappiness and unsatisfactoriness.
- can cause self - serving and ill intentions which make people act unethically and immorally
- these poisons trap people in the cycle of samsara and prevent them from achieving enlightenment
11
Q
Buddha taught atht 3 poisons are linked to what?
A
- Craving
- craving leeds to greed and hatred
- craving also rooted in ignorance, ignorance not just lack of knowledge but deeper ignorance about world and nature of reality,
- its deliberately ignoring truth
- beacuse people do not wake up to the truth of wings (the three marks of existance), they continue spinning round the wheel of life and continue to suffer
12
Q
identify third noble truth
A
- there is an end to suffering (nirodha)
- anyone is capable of achieving enlightenment
- teaches that suffering can be overcome through overcoming craving and ignorance
- when suffering is overcome a person becomes enlightened and reaches nirvana - state of complete freedom, happiness and peace
- end suffering through own actions and efforts. this is important as it means anyone can overcome suffering and achieve enlightenment
13
Q
how is craving and ignorance overcome?
A
- people suffer because of craving and attachment to things that are impermenant
- this doesnt mean people should avoid things they enjoy
- instead they should enjoy things they enjoy but recognise they can’t last, and be ready to let go of them
- ignorance makes people think that impermenant pleasure are sources of complete fufillment
- but by overcoming this ignorance - by realising that temporary pleasures cannot bring true happiness - people can overcome their craving for these pleasures
- which helps them to end their suffering
14
Q
what is nirvana and its interpretations
A
- nirvana means ‘extinction’ - refers to extinction of three poisons
- also refers to a state of complete liberation, peace and happiness. this is reached when a person becomes enlightened
- another word for enlightenement is ‘bodhi’ which means ‘awakening’ like waking up from sleep. also refers to state of knowing
- a buddha is someone who has woken up to the truth of existance and become enlightened
- understand and live in harmonly with noble truths
- naturally behaves according to five moral precepts
15
Q
what is the fourth noble truth
A
- series of practices that buddhsists can follow to overcome suffering
- this is know as the middle path or middle way as the buddha taught that people should lead a moderate life between the 2 extremes of luxury and asceticism
- path consists of eight practices (eightfold path) that are sometimes grouped into three actions (the three fold way)
