The four noble truths

80 Pages·15.9 MB·English

by  Ajahn Sumedho

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The
Four
Noble
Truths
Venerable Ajahn Sumedho
This book has been sponsored for
free distribution
Sabbadãnarh dammadãnarh
jinãti
"]be Dhamma
gift of surpassesall othergifts"
DEDICATION
May thefruits ofthisDhamma Dãna
accrue to myparentsand to Rani;
may theirjourney through samsãra
he shortened
-Don
Rajapaksa
The Four Noble Truths
Venerable Ajahn Sumedho
For Free distribution.
Publications from Amaravati are for free
distribution. In most cases, this is made possible
through offerings from individuals or groups, given
specifically for the publication of Buddhist teachings.
Further information is available from the address below.
(Ç) Amaravati Publications 1992
Amaravati Publications
Amaravati Buddhist Monastery
Great Gaddesden
liemelliempstead
liertfordshire liPI 3BZ
England
ISBN 1 870205 10 3
Contents
Preface 7
Introduction 8
The First Noble Truth 14
Suffering and self-view 16
Denial ofsuffering 18
Morality and compassion 19
To 20
investigate suffering
Pleasure and displeasure 22
Insight in situations 25
The Second Noble Truth 29
Three kinds ofdesire 30
Graspingis suffering 32
Letting go 33
Accomplishment 36
The Third Noble Truth 38
The truth ofimpermanence40
Mortality and cessation 42
Allowingthings to arise 43
Realisation 47
The Fourth Noble Truth 50
Right Understanding 52
Right Aspiration 56
Right Speech,
Right Action, Right Livelihood 59
Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right
Concentration 61
Aspects ofmeditation 62
Rationality and emotion 64
Things as they are 66
Harmony 68
The Eightfold Path as a reflective teaching 69
Glossary 73
A
Handful Leaves
of
The Blessed One was once livingat Kosambi in a wood of
simsapatrees. HePickedupafewleaves inhis hand, andheasked
thebhikkhus, 'Howdoyouconceive this, bhikkhus, whichismore,
the few leaves that I have Picked up in my hand or those on the
trees in the wood?'
'The leaves that the Blessed One has Picked up in his hand
arefew, Lord; those in the wood arefar more.'
ISo too, bhikkhus, the things that I have known by direct
knowledgearemore; the things thatIhave toldyouareonlyafew.
Why have I not told them? Because they bring no benefit, no
advancement in the Holy Life, and because they do not lead to
dispassion, to fading, to ceasing, to stilling, to direct knowledge,
to enlightenment, to Nibbana. That is why I have not told them.
And what have I told you? This is suffering; this is the origin of
suffering; this is the cessation ofsuffering; this is the way leading
to the cessation ofsuffering. That is what 1 have told you. Why
have I told it? Because it brings benefit, and advancement in the
HolyLife, andbecause itleads todispassion, tofading, toceasing,
to stilling, to direct knowledge, to enlightenment, to Nibbana. So
bhikkhus, let your task be this: This is suffering, this is the origin
ofsuffering, this is the cessationofsuffering, this is the way leading
N
to the cessation ofsuffering.' [Samyutta ikaya, LVI, 311
6