Monks: The 4 Noble Truths.

Salutations, seeker of enlightenment!

Siddhartha shared with those that would listen a core doctrine in his very first sermon after his own enlightenment. The Four Noble Truths is a basic Buddhist concept, embraced and understood by all who wish to follow the path to enlightenment.

1. Life is dukkha ((suffering)).
   -We suffer as a result of pain, sickness, the trauma of birth, the inevitability of death, being tethered to what one dislikes, and the loss of loved ones.

2. The cause of life's dislocation is tanha ((desire for private fulfillment)).
   -These inclinations for private fulfillment continue or even increase our separateness from each other and true enlightnement. Greed stems from this, as well as narrowmindedness.

3. The only way to cure life's dislocation is by overcoming tanha.
   -If we are released from our own limited self-interest, we would be relieved of the torment of suffering.

4. The overcoming of tanha is through the 8 fold path.
   -The 8 fold path shows how this can be accomplished.

Buddham saranam gacchami
Dhammam saranam gacchami
Sangham saranam gacchami

May The Teachings Provide Guidance,
Desvet
~*Metta*~