The Four Noble Truths are the core of Buddhist teachings. What are the Four Noble Truths They are the four types of truths realized by enlightened sages:

1) The Truth of Suffering苦諦

This is the characteristic of human life and this world. As human beings, we live in this world bear-ing the characteristic of suffering. Physically, we ex-perience the suffering of old-age, sickness and death; psychologically, we experience the suffering of greed, hatred and ignorance. In nature, there are sufferings caused by flood, storm and fire; when it comes to personal relationships, we suffer from meeting with foes and separation from loved ones; and in society, there are sufferings caused by unfulfilled desires and insufficient clothing or food. For these reasons, suf-fering is a characteristic of the mundane world.

2) The Truth of the Cause of Suffering集諦

This is the cause of all vexations and oppressions in the mundane world. The good and bad karmas from our past lives, and the defilements and chaos that arise in our present lifetime; the ignorance and delusions from the past and present; physical acts of killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct, verbal unwhole-someness of lying and gossips; and mental commit-ments of greed, hatred and evil views. All of these are the causes of life's sufferings.

3) The Truth of the Cessation of Suffering

This is the state of transcendence and liberation. It is the source of the cessation of suffering and begin-ning of the elimination of the cause of suffering. It is the wonder of liberation from birth, death and im-permanence, and the realization of the state of nir-vana, stillness and cessation. In this state, differences will be replaced by equality, and chaos by peace; no attachments and defiled thoughts will arise, instead, infinite light will illuminate on every realm. For this reason, cessation is a state of the sage's mind.

(Cont....)


【Keywords：關鍵字】
Noble 聖／Truth 真諦、真理／Suffering 苦／Cause of Suffering 集／Cessation of Suffering 滅／Greed 貪／Hatred 瞋／Ignorance 癡／<br><br>Mundane 世間的、世俗的／Impermanence 無常