THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
The connected discourses on the Truths (saccasamyutta) in the Samyutta Nikaya relates various topics to the Four Noble Truths to understand things as they truly are:
1. Develop concentration
Right Concentration, as seen as the eighth step of the Noble Eight-fold path, is essential to the understanding of the Four Noble Truths. The characteristics of phenomena and existence show the relative nature in three ways: impermanence (anicca), clinging to them leads to suffering (dukkha), and to identify with them as individuality should be replaced with viewing them as not self (anatta). These three characteristics must be viewed with insight, regarding the five aggregates of becoming and six sense bases.
2. Exert in seclusion
Meditation requires seclusion, this can be physical seclusion in the form of doing a meditation retreat, or sensual seclusion during practice, or even seclusion by paying attention only to a particular thing you are doing at a given moment.
3. Not have unwholesome thoughts of sensual pleasures, ill will, and harming.
“Here, monks, when a monk is giving attention to some sign, and owing to that sign there arise in him evil unwholesome thoughts connected with desire, with hate, and with delusion, then he should give attention to some other sign connected with what is wholesome.” — MN I.119
The remedies given for the types of unwholesome thoughts are given in the Majjhima Nikaya commentary:
When thoughts of sensual desire arise directed towards living beings, the “other sign” is the meditation on repulsiveness [of objects]. When the thoughts are directed to inanimate [non-living] things, the “other sign” is attention to impermanence. When thoughts of hate arise directed towards living beings, the “other sign” is the meditation on lovingkindness.
The remedy for thoughts connected with delusion is practicing under a qualified teacher, studying the Dhamma, inquiring into its meaning, listening to the Dhamma, and inquiring into causes [of suffering].
4. Not have unwholesome [not beneficial and useless] reflections.
These are reflections that serve no purpose and don’t lead to any insight or wisdom that help in one’s practice:
5. Not engaging in Disputatious [not beneficial] Talk
These are quarrels and debates that lead to no useful insight, nor are they in any way pragmatic in discussion with other practitioners of the teachings:
6. Not engaging in Pointless Talk.
This list could go on forever about topics that are not essential to one’s practice. To practice Buddhism is to focus on the important stuff, and not on the pointless topics and ramblings:
These talks are not beneficial, irrelevant to the fundamentals of the holy life, and does not lead to revulsion, to dispassion, to cessation, to peace, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbana.
7. Ignorance [not knowing the Four Noble Truths]
“Venerable sir, it is said, ‘ignorance, ignorance.’What is ignorance, venerable sir, and in what way is one immersed in ignorance?”
“Monk, not knowing suffering, not knowing the origin of suffering, not knowing the cessation of suffering, not knowing the way leading to the cessation of suffering:
This is called ignorance, monk, and it is in this way that one is immersed in ignorance.” — SN V.429
In the next and final part in the Four Noble Truths series, we’ll be taking a closer look at the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, which are tightly associated with the Four Noble Truths.
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Beautiful .. Interesting
Great post from you, thanks for the tips
Thanks for sharing
Of them i think everybody need more of "5. Not engaging in Disputatious [not beneficial] Talk" have that in mind the success comes true. Regards
I end up being quiet because of 5, I get nervous with people I don't know and start rambling inanely...hahaha
This is something I still struggle with, shut up and listen and don't engage if I don't have something helpful and interesting to share...
Going to a silent retreat helped me see this habit and work with it in depth...
Isolation shall be for the benefit of man
To think about things calmly, I adore isolation when I am the envy of anyone
I've always enjoyed being alone with my thoughts and projects. What has been difficult for me is letting my projects and thoughts go when I meditate...hahaha
Waking up and watching my thoughts go around in cicles has been my main practice for years. It is hard for me to stay in bed because I want to get up and go to work. I wake up around 4:30am no matter what and I stay in bed for at least an hour and try and just be still even if I am at retreat...even when I am alone I am not alone...hahahaha
It takes about five minutes for me to go to sleep...I never remember dreaming.
Interesting. .. I guess it is said that suffering is the default truth in life. That why those who are happy should rejoice! As it's not the baseline, but something to constantly work
Suffering isn't the truth, grasping or running away from what we like or dislike is the cause of suffering. Our conditioned reaction without any awareness regarding reality as it is...mundane or realitive happiness is like saddness, it is constantly changing, people are always trying to hold onto what makes them happy and run away from what makes them sad...this is suffering
Letting all this go, getting off the merry-go-round is true happiness!
sermon that is very cool [email protected] very liked posting you ygikan.terimakasih for the extraordinary post. @ reddust
The articles are my first lessons from my first Buddhist teacher a Korean monk, I called him Sunim, which means monk in korean. It makes me happy to share what I learned and remember Sunim's patience and kindness when he worked with me...he taught me what true compassion means.
four glorious truths with very good sermon preaching. please read your post @ reddust. i have upvote and resteem your post.
No preaching, I learned that I can share this information without hope. However if any of this is helpful for someone who is suffering and the teachings can help them learn they can change their mind for the better than I am happy!
Very wonderful read. I believe more of the newer steemians should read this. I for one never signed up for steemit thinking I was going to make huge rewards every post. Trust me, I saw the payouts. I just saw BIG potential. Funny thing is, I discovered STEEM 3 weeks before I discovered steemit. I was already hooked to STEEM, it was more valuable to me than steemit was. Steemit then was just my virtual holding spot. But then I started looking around steemit's community and how it all worked, I now see steemit (the community of users) as worth more than STEEM was.
I think these lessons can help anyone, new or old steemians @shihabieee. We can enjoy ourselves here and learn new skills, meet people who are interesting and if we don't earn what we expected take our happiness from things that have nothing to do with momentary rewards.
Great!
A bitter-truth post that cares for every newbie long term success on steemit !
Thanks for sharing these helpful tips.
The truths if planted correctly will sprout, cultivate and protect our seedlings and someday they will grow sweet fruit!
Agreed that quarrels bring more division that reward. It is interesting to see common threads in religions of the world. Thanks @reddust.
There are so many common threads throughout religions when it comes to virtuous behavior bringing true happiness! I think this is what we all need to focus on even atheists....hahaha ;-)
Hola @reddust,este video es muy interesante , la naturaleza humana es bastante vulnerable , en ocasiones es muy complicado estar con los demas , la meditacion es una salida a tanto conflicto, a veces es bueno estar solos .
Bendiciones .
La meditación puede ser útil si se realiza correctamente; si se realiza incorrectamente, es una pérdida de tiempo y puede dañar a alguien. Es una herramienta que necesita ser utilizada correctamente. Puedes usar google translate si quieres escribir en inglés.
Redduts I will comment in English, but I will help with the translator.
Unique stily with useful information. Thank you for your support
Thank you @dobartim and I hope you reach your goals and surpass them!
Thank you @reddust My idea, As people connect from ignorance to the fluent and ever-changing forms of reality, they can not get rid of the cause-effect vicious cycle, they feel pain.
That is the law of nature-cause and effect. It is like gardening, if you plant bitter seeds you will get bitter fruit and don't forget to pull the weeds root and all! hahahaha <3
But how can I train my skills in bullshitting other people if I won't engage in disputes with them :((
It's such a great feeling to persuade the one who was right to think that he was wrong! Haaa-hahaha (Evil laughter).
Thanks for the tips. I need to invite my Instagram followers to join the platform. I just joined yesterday, so I didn't even realize you could direct message on steemit, before I read your article. I will certainly stay out of the vote begging crowd lol. Thanks for the tips.
Yes it would be helpful to stay away from I follow you, you follow me and please upvote my article. The best way to grow your blog is to leave relavant comments that have to do with the article. Engage the author and your reputation will grow quickly. Eventually if your content is engaging you will also earn rewards. This site is ilke a business, it takes time and patience! The lessons I share will help with insight and patience...hahaha
My Rheumatolgist has advised me to learn Mindfulness Meditation to help with my pain, I have been doing it for a few months now, wrote a few posts about it. I do feel better after meditating but haven't learned how to help with my pain.
very useful the informations i really like post like that Thank you.
This post has triggered something inside me, I have to admit that I do not understand all of the part but I do most of it, I do meditation but not every day, just 3 time a week, I go to the jungle at least 30 days in a year just for seclusion, even not in one time, and I found that my temper become lower and lower when I come back home again. I go to the jungle to look back of my life and kill my anger and fear when I am alone. When I have no one aside I learn how important friends and family I have had so far. thank you @reddust
wish you a better life
Regards
Having had a lot of issues in life, depression/anxiety being the most destructive to my personal growth and higher calling. I’ve begun to explore Eastern-ways of thought and am trying to learn mindful meditation. This was an interesting post, glad I stopped by for a read. Resteeming...
Many of the things I love in my life and most important when I am alone, take me deep and dance
I am planning to do what I want with all the comfort of my soul and complete tranquility