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1. ‘This, O bhikkhus, is the Noble Truth of Suffering: birth is suffering;
decay is suffering; illness is suffering; death is suffering. Presence of objects
we hate is suffering; separation from objects we love is suffering; not to
obtain what we desire is suffering. Briefly, the fivefold clinging to existence
is suffering.’
2. ‘This, O bhikkhus, is the Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering: craving,
that leads to re-birth, accompanied by pleasure and lust, finding its
delight here and there. This craving is threefold, namely, craving for
pleasure, craving for
existence,
craving for prosperity.’
3. ‘This, O bhikkhus, is the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering: (it
ceases with) the complete cessation of this craving - a cessation which
consists in the absence of every passion - with the
abandoning of this craving, with the doing-away with it, with the
deliverance from it, with the destruction of craving.’
4. ‘This, O bhikkhus, is the Noble Truth of the Path which leads to the Cessation
of Suffering: that holy eightfold path, that is to say, right
belief, right aspiration, right speech, right conduct, right means of
livelihood, right endeavour, right memory, right meditation.
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The 4 Noble
(i.e. Aryan) truths schedule was probably invented centuries after the
Tathagata’s death since much of its content is redundant, non-logical and
highly sel;cetive (for social engineering purposes). The first Noble Truth
of the schedule actually provides a list of the causes of suffering, and
which should by stated under the Truth No2 heading. In short, in this
schedule Truths No 1 and No 2 are conflated.
Here
craving (i.e. thirst = desire) as cause of suffering is given. This,
however, does not match the more abstract and universal causes given in the
3 characteristics sutta where anicca and anatta are provided as causes. Nor
does it reflect the content of the 8 characteristics sutta. Nor does it
reflect the Dependent Origination schedule of causes, starting with
ignorance.
See:
The expanded list of the causes of dukkha
In the
‘ending of suffering’ Noble Truth the fact of cessation and the cause of
cessation are conflated, a serious logical error.
Note the
monumental cock-up: The 4th Noble Truth should read, ‘Ending
craving (or ending the asavas) ends suffering’. However, the corrupt priest
who interpolated this late, village audience oriented pitch, added the
Noble 8-fold path and which was probably introduced centuries later to give
a positive, therefore more attractive spin (or end) to Buddhist endeavour
AND ingratiate the Sangha with its secular patrons by adding a socialising
dimension to Buddhist instruction. Bhikkus were originally homeless
wanderers for whom the Noble 8-fold Path was irrelevant.
The
populist official 4th Noble Truth describes release from
suffering by means of satisfaction (or perfection that overcomes
imperfection) rather than cessation of craving (i.e. desire/clinging) (i.e.
engineered either by elimination or suppression).
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