Four Noble Truths Talks
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In Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths (Sanskrit: चत्वार्यार्यसत्यानि, romanized: catvaryāryasatyāni; Pali: cattāri ariyasaccāni; "The Four Arya Satya") are "the truths of the Noble Ones", the truths or realities for the "spiritually worthy ones". The truths are:
dukkha ("not being at ease", "suffering", unsatisfactory unstableness; from dush-stha, "standing unstable,") is an innate characteristic of samsara, (lit. 'wandering'), existence: nothing is forever, this is painful; samudaya (origin, arising, combination; "cause"): together with dukkha (unease, disbalance) there is taṇhā (lit. 'thirst'), "craving," "desire" for or "attachment" to (upādāna) this transient, unsatisfactory existence; nirodha (cessation, ending, confinement): the attachment to dukkha can be severed or contained by the confinement or letting go of this taṇhā; marga (path, Noble Eightfold Path) is the path leading to the confinement of tanha and the release (vimutti) from dukkha.The four truths appear in many grammatical forms in the ancient Buddhist texts, and are traditionally identified as the first teaching given by the Buddha. While often called one of the most important teachings in Buddhism, they have both a symbolic and a propositional function. Symbolically, they represent the awakening and liberation of the Buddha, and of the potential for his followers to reach the same liberation and freedom as him. As propositions, the Four Truths are a conceptual framework that appear in the Pali canon and early Hybrid Sanskrit Buddhist scriptures, as a part of the broader "network of teachings" (the "dhamma matrix"), which have to be taken together. They provide a conceptual framework for introducing and explaining Buddhist thought, which has to be personally understood or "experienced".
As a proposition, the four truths defy an exact definition, but refer to and express the basic orientation of Buddhism: unguarded sensory contact gives rise to craving and clinging to impermanent states and things, which are dukkha, "unsatisfactory," "incapable of satisfying" and painful. This craving keeps us caught in saṃsāra, "wandering", usually interpreted as the endless cycle of repeated rebirth, and the continued dukkha that comes with it, but also referring to the endless cycle of attraction and rejection that perpetuates the ego-mind. There is a way to end this cycle, namely by attaining nirvana, cessation of craving, whereafter rebirth and the accompanying dukkha will no longer arise again. This can be accomplished by following the eightfold path, confining our automatic responses to sensory contact by restraining oneself, cultivating discipline and wholesome states, and practicing mindfulness and dhyana (meditation).
The function of the four truths, and their importance, developed over time and the Buddhist tradition slowly recognized them as the Buddha's first teaching. This tradition was established when prajna, or "liberating insight", came to be regarded as liberating in itself, instead of or in addition to the practice of dhyana. This "liberating insight" gained a prominent place in the sutras, and the four truths came to represent this liberating insight, as a part of the enlightenment story of the Buddha.
The four truths grew to be of central importance in the Theravada tradition of Buddhism by about the 5th-century CE, which holds that the insight into the four truths is liberating in itself. They are less prominent in the Mahayana tradition, which sees the higher aims of insight into sunyata, emptiness, and following the Bodhisattva path as central elements in their teachings and practice. The Mahayana tradition reinterpreted the four truths to explain how a liberated being can still be "pervasively operative in this world". Beginning with the exploration of Buddhism by western colonialists in the 19th century and the development of Buddhist modernism, they came to be often presented in the west as the central teaching of Buddhism, sometimes with novel modernistic reinterpretations very different from the historic Buddhist traditions in Asia.
Title | Speaker | |
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The Three Marks Of Existence Nirvana, Four Noble Truths, Monkey Mind, Daily Life, Beginners |
May 29 2021 |
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The Noble Eightfold Path Right Speech, Mindfulness, Karma, Concentration, Four Noble Truths |
May 28 2021 |
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The Four Noble Truths Big Mind, Four Noble Truths, Religion, Precepts, Patience |
May 22 2021 |
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Ramaytush Skillful Effort Four Noble Truths, Ordinary Mind, Bodhisattva Vow, Platform Sutra, Daily Life... |
Apr 03 2021 |
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Dogen's Vow Vow, Buddha Mind, Passions, Mindfulness, Four Noble Truths, true dharma, Book of... |
Nov 21 2020 |
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Hunger Mindfulness, Four Noble Truths, Four Foundations, Lay, Bodhisattva Vow, Greed,... |
Oct 03 2020 |
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Thinking and Non-Thinking Right Speech, training, Four Noble Truths, Interview, Instruction, American,... |
Aug 22 2020 |
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Three Marks Of ExistenceThree Dharma Seals, Impermanence, No-Self, Suffering, Nirvana, marks of existence, ... |
Aug 08 2020 Online |
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Public Dokusan 5 Don't Know Mind, Four Noble Truths, Anger, Duality, Interview, Building, Non-... |
Jul 31 2020 |
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Closely Watched Mind 2 Emotions, Anger, Four Noble Truths, Cultivation, Subject-and-Object, Discrimination,... |
Jul 07 2020 |
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Closely Watched Mind 2 Emotions, Anger, Four Noble Truths, Cultivation, Subject-and-Object, Discrimination,... |
Jul 06 2020 |
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Together Action Intimacy, Four Noble Truths, Aspects of Practice, Culture, Hindrances, Bell,... |
Oct 05 2019 |
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Zenki and Shoji Class 4Serial: BZ-02682 PP Class 4
Four Noble Truths, Six Realms, Birth-and-Death, Impermanence, Lay, Vinaya, Platform... |
Jun 06 2019 |
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Choosing Fredom Mindfulness, Four Noble Truths, Intimacy, Instruction, Dependent Origination, Right... |
May 04 2019 |
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Ryaku Fusatsu Karma, Precepts, Four Noble Truths, Vow, Repentance, Duality, Addiction, Renewal,... |
Sep 22 2018 |
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Enlightenment Zazen Comfort True Comfort Thoroughness, Four Noble Truths, Practice Period, Attachment, Composure, Buddha... |
May 05 2018 |
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Patachara StorySerial: BZ-02602 Women's Sesshin
Four Noble Truths, Peace, Lay, Discrimination, Politics, Ordination, Passions,... |
Mar 04 2018 |
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Right Speech Right Speech, Vow, Precepts, Karma, Four Noble Truths, Mindfulness, Bodhisattva Vow,... |
Feb 10 2018 |
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Heart SutraSerial: BZ-02555 Sesshin Day 4
Discrimination, Four Noble Truths, Buddha Nature, Teacher-and-Student, Heart Sutra,... |
Jun 10 2017 |
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Skillful Means and Anger Anger, Greed, Four Noble Truths, Religion, Peace, Attachment, Diversity, American,... |
Mar 05 2017 |
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IntuitSerial: BZ-02519 Rohatsu Day 6
Intuition, Discrimination, Building, Emotions, Four Noble Truths, Composure, Buddha... |
Dec 09 2016 |
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Talk Rohatsu Day 3 training, Composure, Four Noble Truths, Duality, Emotions, Vow, Priest, Ego,... |
Dec 06 2016 |
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Five Hindrances and Seven Factors of EnlightenmentSerial: BZ-02499 Class 4
Mindfulness, Equanimity, Cultivation, Concentration, Hindrances, Perfect Wisdom, Four... |
Sep 22 2016 |
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Five Hindrances and Seven Factors of EnlightenmentSerial: BZ-02497 Class 3 Mindfulness, Hindrances, Equanimity, Samsara, Concentration, Bodhisattva Precepts,... |
Sep 15 2016 |
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Karma Bodhisattva Ceremony Karma, Repentance, Vow, Evil, Bodhisattva Vow, Manjushri, Four Noble Truths, true... |
Aug 20 2016 |
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More About Difficulty Practice Period, Absolute-and-Relative, Aspects of Practice, Four Noble Truths,... |
May 28 2016 |
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The Way of Tenderness Oneness, Diversity, Duality, Four Noble Truths, Non-duality, Anger, Dharma... |
Apr 23 2016 |
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Practice of Dialogue Four Noble Truths, Ordinary Mind, Chanting, Teacher-and-Student, Global Warming,... |
Jul 18 2015 |
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Radical Acceptance Four Noble Truths, Conversation, Karma, Mahayana, Lay, Anger, Attachment |
Feb 28 2015 |
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The Joy of Defying Gravity Nirvana, Instruction, Four Noble Truths, Impermanence, Dharma Transmission, training... |
Feb 21 2015 |
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We All Cover the Ground Equally Oneness, Four Noble Truths, Practice Period, Buddha Nature, Heart Sutra, Duality,... |
Feb 07 2015 |
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Going for Refuge Bodhisattva Vow, Vow, Four Noble Truths, training, New Year, Platform Sutra, Nirvana... |
Jan 10 2015 |
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Everyone Has a Light Blue Cliff Record, Duality, Oneness, Practice Period, Berkeley Zen Center, Passions,... |
Nov 15 2014 |
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Upaya Chaplaincy Training Bodhisattva Vow, Silence, Beginners, Four Noble Truths, Vow, Oneness, training, Non-... |
Aug 30 2014 |
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Brahmana Viharas Equanimity, Monkey Mind, Forgiveness, Peace, Four Noble Truths, War, Enemies, Ego,... |
Aug 09 2014 |
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Heart Sutra Class Birth-and-Death, Four Noble Truths, Hindrances, Evil, Composure, Duality, Monastic... |
Jun 12 2014 5 |
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Heart Sutra Class Birth-and-Death, Doubt, Renunciation, Funeral, Four Noble Truths, Intuition, Passions... |
Jun 05 2014 4 |
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Pilgrimage, Intimacy, Chaplaincy Four Noble Truths, Intimacy, Precepts, Buddha Nature, Book of Serenity,... |
Apr 19 2014 |
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Repentance Ceremony Evil, Precepts, Humility, Repentance, Bodhisattva Vow, Attachment, Four Noble Truths... |
Mar 15 2014 |
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Suffering and Faith Anger, Death-and-Dying, Four Noble Truths, Practice Position, Duality, Don't... |
Feb 15 2014 |
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The Middle Way Four Noble Truths, Right Speech, Right Effort, Posture, Culture, Liberation, training... |
Feb 08 2014 |
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Living By Vow Four Noble Truths, Vow, Karma, Samsara, Soto Zen, Chanting, Nirvana, Daily Life,... |
Jan 25 2014 |
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Shelterless Shelter Three Treasures, Sangha, Gratitude, Bodhisattva Ceremony, Practice Period, Vow,... |
Oct 12 2013 |
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Compassion Four Noble Truths, Liberation, Discrimination, training, Heart Sutra, Ego, Beginners... |
Jun 29 2013 |
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The Noble Truth of Suffering Four Noble Truths, Happiness, Daily Life, Patience, Silence, Conversation, Hate... |
Apr 13 2013 |
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The State of the World According to SojunSerial: BZ-02285 Saturday Lecture Religion, New Year, Greed, Four Noble Truths, Evil, War, Peace, Enemies, Manjushri,... |
Jan 05 2013 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sandokai Lecture ThreeSerial: BZ-02280 Couplet 34, Rohatsu Day 3 Forgiveness, Big Mind, Four Noble Truths, Oneness, Duality, Karma, Practice Period,... |
Dec 04 2012 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Omnipresence of Dukkha Four Noble Truths, Happiness, Daily Life, training, Impermanence, Silence, Offering... |
Sep 29 2012 |
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Bodhisattva CeremonySerial: BZ-02252 3 Pure Precepts, Saturday Lecture Bodhisattva, Repentance, Vow, Repentance, Evil, Precepts, Karma, Vow, Four Noble... |
Jul 07 2012 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sangha Practice Berkeley Zen Center, Four Noble Truths, Sangha, Liberation, Bodhisattva Precepts,... |
Mar 31 2012 |