Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha

The Four Stages “blissful stage of meditation” “beyond reasoning” “attentive & conscious, with equal mind to joy or aversion” “beyond pain & pleasure, with equal mind to joy and aversion”

THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS The Noble Truth of Pain Birth, age, sickness, death, sorrow & despair are painful. The Noble Truth of the Cause of Pain It is craving, which leads to rebirth, pleasure & passion, existence & non-existence.

THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS The Noble Truth of the Cessation of Pain It is the cessation of craving without remainder, forsaking detachment and release from it. The Noble Truth that of the Way that leads to the Cessation of Pain It is the Noble Eightfold Path

The Noble Eightfold Path Right Views Give the knowledge of Pain, its Cause, Cessation & the Path Right Motive Gives aspiration to renunciation & benevolence Right Speech Abstains from lies and slander Right Action Abstains from stealing, killing & self-indulgence.

The Noble Eightfold Path Right Livelihood Follows right pursuits Right Effort Turns against evil states and towards good Right Mindfulness Looks on mind & body with self-control Right Contemplation Rises above evil and abides in equanimity & bliss

“I have found the deathless and teach the truth …” Why is the body not the soul? Because it is subject to sickness It is the same with the feelings, perception, elements & consciousness. Because they are impermanent & painful

The Buddha does not a teach a dogma to follow … The religious life does not depend on dogmas concerning whether the world is or is not eternal. Or finite – or infinite. Why not? Because birth, old age, death, sorrow, lamentation, misery and despair still exist. These are what the Buddha is addressing. “Bear in mind what I have not explained and what I have explained.” The questions you ask lead away from the path.