Recap FIRST NOBLE TRUTH ( The facts ) All of life is unsatisfactory because there is so much suffering. SECOND NOBLE ( The reason ) Suffering is caused by wanting things to stay the way they are and by craving. THIRD NOBLE ( The cure) Suffering can be ended by overcoming craving and becoming detached. FOURTH NOBLE ( the medicine ) Follow the code given in the Noble Eightfold Path in order to achieve true happiness and end suffering.

Finding True Happiness The Buddha taught that in order to find true happiness and to end suffering, you have to find a middle way in life. This can be achieved by following each step of the Eight-fold

Right view 1 2 Right intention Right action 3 4 Right speech Right livelihood 5 6 Right effort Right mindfulness 7 8 Right concentration

Right View 1 Looking at the world in the correct way, understanding ourselves, nature and the way things work

Right Intention 2 Stopping yourself from doing and thinking things that make you act immorally

Acting in ways which would not bring harm to anyone or anything Right Action 3 Acting in ways which would not bring harm to anyone or anything

Making sure you say things for good and not to hurt others Right Speech 4 Making sure you say things for good and not to hurt others

Right Livelihood 5 To have a occupation which is fair and does not result in the harming of anyone or anything

Right Effort 6 To make a conscious attempt to rid themselves of bad thoughts, actions, speech etc.

Right Mindfulness 7 Be aware of what is going on around you and attempting to understand and decide what is right or wrong

Right Concentration 8 To train your mind to completely concentrate on one thing, ignoring things that distract us in everyday life

The Middle Way/Path One of the Buddha’s first teachings after becoming enlightened, was on The Middle Way This is taking a path in life which avoids extremes. In his life, Gautama gave up his possessions but realised giving up food and water was not beneficial

The Middle Way Gautama likened it to a stringed instrument – if its strung too tight it will be sharp, but strung too loose it will be flat. If you achieve the perfect balance the instrument will give a harmonious, beautiful sound

Right view 1 2 Right intention Right action 3 4 Right speech Right livelihood 5 6 Right effort Right mindfulness 7 8 Right concentration

The Eight-fold Path Right view Right intention Right action Right speech Right livelihood Right effort Right mindfulness Right concentration

The Middle Way Right speech Draw a line across the page Put ‘good way to act’ at one end and ‘extreme way to act’ at the other end Pick one of the 8 ‘paths’ (in this case speech) Write on the line ways to follow this path well and to an extreme Right speech Speaking respectfully and honestly Patronise, speak insincerely, swear, lie Good way to act Extreme way to act