Explain in detail the 4 Noble Truths and the 8-Fold Path.

Buddhism at it’s root is a religion based on ideals and morals that we as humans should follow to reach “Bodhi”, briefly explained as enlightenment or a state of wisdom coupled with ethical perfection. The 4 Noble Truths and 8-Fold Path teachings are key teachings used by the followers as guidelines to help its followers reach this state.

The 4 Noble Truths are basic in nature, with some deeper meaning behind each teaching. They are: “Dukkha”, the truth of suffering, “Samudaya”, the truth of the cause of suffering, “Nirhodha”, the truth of the end of suffering, and finally, “Magga”, or the truth of the path that frees us from suffering. Dukkha, argues that life is suffering and that most things in life are temporary, arguing that materialism is a plague on human consciousness. To reach Bodhi and be whole, we must not hold material goods in such high praise to strive for a much deeper happiness in our lifetimes. The more valuable happiness lies in a healthy family life, community, or spiritual sense. Samudaya is similar in its arguments against materialism, but rather that we grow ignorant after being addicted to small bursts of satisfaction and act selfish striving for those short bursts of happiness. This craving or thirst should be fueled into more wholesome deeds such as helping your community or doing acts to make you feel more connected to others or your universe rather than separating yourself from others. Nirhodha explains a sort of “cure” sought by following these truths, recognizing these addictions and actively seeking to be freed from them. By practicing freeing actions and realizing that not everything especially the short bursts of happiness are permanent is key to this truth. By ending this cycle of addiction and selfish acts, we can put an end to the cycle to get closer to the state of Bodhi.  The last truth, Magga, is an all encapsulating end to the truths that introduces the 8-Fold Path as a set of rules or guidelines to follow to study these truths closely. The Buddha argues that by following these truths and paths, we can cure the illness of suffering to get closer to reaching Bodhi.

The 8-Fold Path, as explained previously is a broad set of rules that touch on different aspects of our lifestyle like teachings in other religions to better humanity. They are: Right Knowledge, Right aspiration, Right Speech, Right behavior, Right livelihood, Right effort, Right mindfulness, and finally Right absorption. Right Knowledge is a basic concept in the path, it’s simply having knowledge of the Four Noble Truths and starting down the 8-Fold path. Right aspiration, is having the right intentions and understanding what we aim to get out of following the 8-Fold path, will you be focused or face distractions from the path? Right speech is a step in that path that involves self-reflection, and understanding the impact of our language and interactions. To avoid toxic speech patterns and speak in a more positive manner to be more “charitable” in a speech sense. Right behavior, is a set of guidelines to follow that are like the Ten Commandments, being as follows: do not kill, do not steal, do not lie, do not be unchose, and do not take drugs or drink intoxicants. While simple to follow, do not kill also includes animals, and being unchose essentially means to be faithful to a loved one by restraining yourself from urges of that nature. Avoiding these toxic behavior patterns and being more positive is a key part of the 8-Fold Path.  Right livelihood is to choose an occupation or way of living that will be more positive on the world, avoiding “darker” occupations involving the destruction of life or that may hurt others mentally or physically. Right effort is to put in the effort actively to put down negative actions and promote positive ones. By promoting positivity, we can help others as well as ourselves avoid unwholesome states of mind pre-existing or arising ones. Right mindfulness is self-reflective similar to Right speech, but involves more mental actions. By actively being aware of feelings, physical behavior, and ideas or thoughts we can better understand how our minds as well as those around us work. If you can recognize a bad thought or action, you can end it in its tracks or understand it and not let it affect yourself as much. This part of the path involves breathing exercises and trying to reach a better understanding of yourself. Finally, Right absorption is about fixation and concentration. By homing in on one object or idea such as enlightenment, we can reach enlightenment or Bodhi at last and see the world in a new perspective. Right absorption is using all the teachings of the Four Noble Truths and Eight-Fold Path to create a better understanding of the world as well as ourselves.

While the path to Bodhi or enlightenment certainly isn’t easy, the Eight-Fold Path and Four Noble Truths aim to help reach that state with their simple yet deep guidelines. Like other religions, they encompass teachings of being more kind and positive to better humans as well as individual consciousness.