1. PKSSSS CY2010 Level: J4 Lesson 7: The Four Noble Truths: (II) Cause of Suffering - Chapter 10: The Four Noble Truths: (II) Cause of Suffering

2. The Four Noble Truths: (II) Cause of Suffering - Understanding The Cause of Suffering One needs to identify the cause of their problem first before they are able to do something to avoid the suffering arising from the problem. Learn. Practice. Realise. Share. Page 1 BIRTH Final Nirvana Enlightenment RenunciationGrowing Up & Four Encounters Search for Truth Teaching What happen to this man? Cause of the pain… How to avoid this suffering? Control the number of sweets you eat… +

3. The Four Noble Truths: (II) Cause of Suffering - The Cause of Suffering The Buddha had observed that life is suffering. He like a good doctor who first carefully diagnoses a patient’s illness and identified the causes of the suffering of mankind before providing a cure. The Buddha discovered that the main causes of suffering are desire or craving and ignorance. This is the Truth of the cause of suffering, which is the Second Noble Truth. Learn. Practice. Realise. Share. Page 2 BIRTH Final Nirvana Enlightenment RenunciationGrowing Up & Four Encounters Search for Truth Teaching

4. The Four Noble Truths: (II) Cause of Suffering - Craving Craving is the desire for pleasures of the senses and for life itself. Craving for pleasures of the senses are classify in 2 ways –Craving for good experiences such as the enjoyment of food, music and friendship. –Craving for possessions. Craving for the pleasures of the senses causes suffering because desires can never be fully satisfied. Learn. Practice. Realise. Share. Page 3 BIRTH Final Nirvana Enlightenment RenunciationGrowing Up & Four Encounters Search for Truth Teaching

5. The Four Noble Truths: (II) Cause of Suffering - Craving Craving leads to greed, ill will, anger and unwholesome actions. Examples: –Because of greed and desire, one may lie, cheat or steal to get what one want. –If prevented, one feel angry and can lead to harsh words, fighting, quarrel or even killings. –All this is suffering. Despite inevitable suffering of old age, sickness and death, one crave life more than anything else. This deep-seated craving for life leads one to suffer birth and death, again and again. Learn. Practice. Realise. Share. Page 4 BIRTH Final Nirvana Enlightenment RenunciationGrowing Up & Four Encounters Search for Truth Teaching What happen when you lick off the honey from the knife?

6. The Four Noble Truths: (II) Cause of Suffering - Ignorance Learn. Practice. Realise. Share. Page 5 BIRTH Final Nirvana Enlightenment RenunciationGrowing Up & Four Encounters Search for Truth Teaching Desire / Craving Greed Ill will Anger Suffering Ignorance Harsh word

7. The Four Noble Truths: (II) Cause of Suffering - Ignorance Craving grows our of ignorance. Ignorance is the inability to see things as they really are. So long as people are ignorance, they will suffer from all kinds of misunderstandings and delusions. –Unable to see radio waves, scientist develop equipment to detect them. When they develop their minds through study/meditation and acquire wisdom, they will understand the suffering and impermanence of life, the law of cause and effect and the Four Noble Truths. By overcoming craving and ignorance, one will attain true happiness and Enlightenment just as the Buddha did 2500 years ago. Learn. Practice. Realise. Share. Page 6 BIRTH Final Nirvana Enlightenment RenunciationGrowing Up & Four Encounters Search for Truth Teaching

8. Summary Learn. Practice. Realise. Share. Page 7 To remove suffering, one must know its causes. Craving and Ignorance are the two main causes of suffering. Craving for pleasures of the senses, like the enjoyment of good food, beautiful music and pleasant company. These pleasures do not last and one become restless and dissatisfied. One may even turn violence to satisfy their uncontrolled desires. All this lead to sufferings. One also crave life and this leads to birth and death, again and again. Craving is rooted in ignorance which means not knowing the truth about things. When wisdom is acquired, ignorance is removed and suffering ends. BIRTH Final Nirvana Enlightenment RenunciationGrowing Up & Four Encounters Search for Truth Teaching