religion... Buddhism

The Four Noble Truths

The Buddha taught that life was dissatisfactory because of craving, but that this condition was curable by following the eightfold path. This teaching is called the four noble truths:

 

1.    Dukkha: All worldly life is unsatisfactory, disjointed, containing suffering.

2.    Samudaya: There is a cause of suffering, which is attachment or desire (tanha) rooted in ignorance.

3.    Nirodha: There is an end of suffering, which is Nirvana.

4.    Marga: There is a path that leads out of suffering, known as the Noble Eightfold Path.

 

The Noble Eightfold Path

In order to fully understand the noble truths and investigate whether they were in fact true, Buddha recommended that a certain lifestyle or path be followed which consists of:

 

1.    Right Understanding

2.    Right Thought

3.    Right Speech

4.    Right Action

5.    Right Livelihood

6.    Right Effort

7.    Right Mindfulness

8.    Right Concentration

The Five Precepts

Buddhists undertake certain precepts as aids on the path to coming into contact with ultimate reality. Laypeople generally undertake five precepts. The five precepts are:

 

1.    I undertake the precept to refrain from harming living creatures (killing).

2.    I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not freely given (stealing).

3.    I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.

4.    I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech (lying, harsh language, slander, idle chit-chat).

5.    I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness.