The Four Noble Truths contain the essence and central belief system of all Buddhist teachings. It is what liberates one from any amount of suffering. From Livingston's point of view, "… it is the foundation of Buddha's Dharma" (Livingston 224). This principle of cosmic order reveals that life brings about suffering and that the origin of this suffering is attachment. However, the cessation of suffering is attainable and there is an eightfold path to rid one from suffering. From Walpola Rahula's What the Buddha Taught and the Dalai Lama's Freedom in Exile, the authors reveal a clear depiction and interpretation of the Four Noble Truths and its effect on their lives. Rahula gives his personal interpretation of what he regards to be Buddhism's essential teachings and the Dalai Lama provides a fascinating glimpse into the philosophies of a self-described monk.
To begin with, the first Noble Truth of Buddha is the reality of dukkha, otherwise known as pain or suffering. Dukkha is not only the sorrow and pain that one suffers, but also "… the deeper sense that imperfection and impermanence are constitutive in life" (Livingston 225). It is the sense of unease and anxiety one suffers from the persistent conflict and karma in one's life. We are plagued with the desires, such as wealth or youthful beauty, that has increased our suffering and has removed us from the path towards Nirvana. Buddha would contend that we try to rid this suffering by looking at the brighter side of issues to minimize the indecent or
unpleasant sides of life. However, the path towards the cessation of suffering is not attained through this way of thinking. Buddhists insist that that we focus on dukkha from a realistic point of view and to see all things as they truly are. According to Cheng, "Acknowledgement of this middle truth enables us to recognize the two truths as one and as non-obstructing to each other"(Cheng 450). This reveals that the way towards and through the middle path successfully is through the acceptance of reality and self-reality. This acceptance helps one understand the second Noble Truth.
In order to achieve cessation, we need to understand the cause and reality of dukkha, tanha. Tanha is known as the "…thirst, craving, unsatisfied longing, and a will to live that gives rise to and upholds the continuity of the ego or self" (Livingston 226). The second Noble Truth reveals that suffering is caused by our desires and fundamental ignorance. We are in this painful cycle of rebirth and death, known as samsara, that puts us back through pain and suffering. This futile cycle could be brought to an end through the cessation of craving.
This transitions into the third Noble Truth that states that there is liberation from one's suffering. According to Wahula, "The Third Noble Truth is that there is emancipation, liberation, freedom from the continuity of dukkha. This is called the Noble Truth of Cessation of dukkha, which is Nibbana, more popularly known in its Sanskrit form of Nirvana" (Wahula 35). The goal of enlightenment is to reach Nirvana. When there is no craving, there is no suffering.
The fourth and last Noble Truth is that, "… the truth of the Way leading to the cessation of suffering, of the Eightfold Path that leads to enlightenment and Nirvana" (Livingston 227). According to Rahula, "It should not be thought that the eight categories or divisions of the Path should be followed and practiced one after the other in the numerical order as given in the usual list above. But they are to be developed more or less simultaneously, as far as possible according
to the capacity of each individual" (Rahula 46). This reveals that they are linked to one another and are key factors in the cultivation of one another. The Eightfold path has many disciplines that must be practiced but it is the key to ending the painful cycle of samsara.
The Eightfold Path has three major disciplines that leads to nirvana. Mental discipline, which includes correct mindfulness, effort and concentration, displays that you have energetic will and are able to understand and are aware of your current mindset. The two other major disciplines is that you must have wisdom and ethical conduct, which includes correct thought and understanding as well as speech, action and livelihood. These practices reveal that all actions must be good and ethical and that we must practice morality.
This path towards liberation and nirvana is known as soteriology. It is the cure to the human problem. There are four types of soteriology; grace through faith, devotion, actions and obligations, and meditation and philosophical insight. Buddhism's Eightfold path is a soteriology of meditation and insight because it requires discipline and the realization of the absolute truth, that nothing is absolute. The Eightfold path is known as the "middle way" because it avoids the extremes of pleasure. Following the "middle way" requires the restriction of many activities that may hinder your ability to reach liberation. These restrictions include the prohibition of eating meat so that animals are not harmed, avoiding the consumption of alcohol so there is no alteration of consciousness, and avoiding engagement in the employment of weapons that could harm others.
There are many components of religious worldview are observable in the Four Noble Truths. A few of these components are that there is a universal spirit, deity or divine entity. This divine entity has established moral order that gives humans a meaning to life. This then reveals to that people must follow their moral order in order to reach salvation and liberation. In comparison to most religious worldviews, the human problem is what we strive to solve. In Buddhism, ignorance of the Four Noble Truths is what we have to overcome. This attempt to end suffering can be seen in many prominent religions in the world today.
As stated before, the cessation of suffering is through the cessation of tanha or craving. As for other religions, suffering is ended through different forms of worship or devotion. For example, in Islam, in order to overcome things like suffering, one must practice the Five Pillars of Islam. Like the Four Noble Truths, the Five Pillars of Islam is the framework that Muslims are required to follow if they wish to go to heaven. This framework makes it easier for a Muslim to attain his or her goal in this world as well as their goal in the hereafter. This is quite similar to aspects of Buddhism in that they both provide a foundation for one to find liberation. This is just a simple example of how most religions, like Buddhism and Islam, have several components that pull one towards the end of suffering.
Furthermore, in relation to the Dalai Lama, the loss and suffering he faces through the Chinese invasion of Tibet and the years he has spent caring for his fellow Tibetan refugees is a great example of the concept of overcoming dukkha and the strive for peace or nirvana. Although he faced hardship, the Tibetan secular head has continued to promote world peace through his policy of nonviolence. This acceptance of reality and the spiritual move towards the cessation of suffering is a visual representation of the Four Noble Truths. In order to end suffering, we must rid the desire or craving for things such as harm and destruction and through this, peace is attainable. Peace will then lead one successfully towards Nirvana.
Throughout the autobiography, the Dalai Lama speaks of fighting off invasions and hardships through the practice of nonviolence. In the Eightfold Path, the idea of having correct action is ideal when working towards liberation. Wahula state's, "Right Action aims at promoting
moral, honorable and peaceful conduct. It admonishes us that we should abstain from destroying life, from stealing, from dishonest dealings, from illegitimate sexual intercourse, and that we should also help others to lead a peaceful and honorable life in the right way" (Wahula 47). This reveals that the Dalai Lama practices what he preaches. The Tibetans believe the Dalai Lama is a religious figure of Bodhisattvas of compassion, whose qualities are wisdom, kindness, and compassion (Waterhouse, 2008, p. 211). These qualities are expected of him and are what he has pursued and shown to his followers throughout his life. In respect to the efforts to keep the peace and the upliftment of Tibetan culture, he has received many awards, such as the Nobel Peace Prize, from several nations. It is obvious that his compassion and strive has not gone unnoticed.
Scholars may classify the Buddhist components observed in the Dalai Lama's writings and speeches as closely related to the ethics of the Four Noble Truth. They would analyze the Dalai Lama's viewpoints on different worldly concepts, such as Marxism, in order to classify and understand the Buddhist components he covers. He believes that Buddhist ideologies are complementary to the values of Marxism. The Tibetan leader blames capitalism for the suffering of this generation. He classifies himself as a Marxist due to its impact on people who suffer from inequalities caused by the market and the government. He says, ""In capitalist countries, there is an increasing gap between the rich and the poor. In Marxism, there is emphasis on equal distribution." He believes that economic and social inequality in many countries, such as India, is the reason for the ongoing discrimination against women and lower-class people, such as those in a lower caste. In order for there to be equality amongst all, the Dalai Lama believes that we should rid the world of its isolationist views and put emphasis on bringing prosperity to all those in need of it.
From his great efforts to bring peace to the struggles he has faced by the Chinese, the Dalai Lama has found freedom in exile. Scholars may also look at this and its relationship with the Tibetan people as it relates to the Four Noble Truths. According to Bentz, "The Dalai Lama encompasses everything Tibetan to the Tibetan people" (Bentz 287). His writing is not only a national and universal symbol but also the symbol of Tibetan Buddhism. His speech and writing contain everything needed to guide the Tibetan people towards salvation. The thousands of people who have found comfort in the Dalai Lama's assistance towards nirvana believe that he has lived up to his title. Bentz says, "He is the symbol of Tibet and the father of the Tibetan nation" (Bentz 293). This reveals that the Dalai Lama is not a "figure head", but a leader that has brought peace and freedom to many.
All in all, the Four Noble Truths is an important aspect of the Buddhist lifestyle. Through its teachings, many people are able to find salvation and happiness. I believe that all aspects of Buddhist teachings are encompassed in the Four Noble Truths and that it could correctly guide those who have lost touch with self-reality. The Dalai Lama's teachings and stories has given an insight on how effective the Four Noble Truths are on a person when it's being taught from someone who is able to affectively reach out to the people. Although the Dalai Lama has lived in exile, he has touched the hearts of many. The Four Noble Truths holds the key to nirvana and its importance to the Buddhist people is recognized and understood through the teachings and insight of the Dalai Lama as well Walpola Rahula.