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

2. 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”

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. “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

8. 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.