The first Noble truth is that there is suffering...that it exists, in its everyday meaning of that which hurts, is true;it is a given in life.
But two words obfuscate the message. The truth is noble because it may not be a truth we contemplate every day. The second word is suffering which may be more accurately rendered by the word dissatisfaction.
To those who are satisfied, this truth is, on the surface, not applicable and Buddha would say go for that which is satisfying,seek to retain the good. But it is a truth that none of us can deny that things are in change all the time,some lasting a long while,some of very short span. It is this change that causes our human dissatisfaction,our existentialist struggle. That much is always true...that there is change and attachment to change brings dissatisfaction. Ou sont les neiges d'antan?
Nirvana can sound heavy,Zen,can seem as a conceptualised anathema. But start where we are ...the first truth is that of dissatisfaction, because although at different levels, and with differing speeds,everything is change.
Good luck on your journey all my friends!
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husbandorcat
- 2008-08-14 @ 06:49:07
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johnmacph6
- 2008-08-14 @ 09:30:55
Well yes life can be shit. That is a blunt appraisal of facts
...we are all learning and i don't have all the answers. We are asked to evaluate through our own ability to reflect and reason on things. Thus the approach is experiential.Satisfaction is not found by clinging to either what was good in the past or what we visualise as bringing happiness in the future. This approach has to work beyond hope and fear SO in a sense yuo are right we have to accept what is...but not by being attached to the notion of it...we have to be unattached to oiutcomes...read my blog the second noble truth which follows on from all this... love john -
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lostjohnny
- http://lostjohnnyparadox.blog.co.uk
- 2008-12-03 @ 08:52:57
It is pleasing to see a fellow promoting this dharma.
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The First Noble Truth is that shit happens.
The Buddha just put it slightly more elegantly.
Is satisfaction to be found by changing external circumstances, or by accepting what is? And if 'what is' has never been satisfactory in the past, how can we make things any different?