“Hope- makes the impossible, ‘Possible’ !”
In our last blog, we explored the importance of hope in overcoming our hardships and adversities. We looked at how being hopeful can allow us to approach problems with certain strategies and a positive mindset that is suitable for success. We also touched upon one of the key teachings of Buddhism – the inevitability of suffering. This teaching is a part of one of the broader teachings of the Buddha called The Four Noble Truths. In this blog, we will take a deep dive into these Four Noble truths, examine their relevance in today’s world and how they can be applied in our lives. We will also link this to how children learn and grow and yet maintain hope for a ‘hopeful future!’
The Four Noble Truths can be thought of as truths that describe the human state and highlight the path to overcome our adversities and achieve well-being.
Noble Truth 1: The inevitability of suffering.
This first truth is about acceptance, accepting that suffering, dissatisfaction, unfulfillment is a part of life. Suffering is part of our daily life and a major part of growing up. This may be somatic, mental, from may consist physical pain or trauma.
When a child starts to crawl, ‘they fall and pick themselves up’, Studies suggest that child needs to crawl and strengthen their muscles. Cajoling them and aiding this process will be detrimental for their muscle and bone growth.
So, how is this relevant today? Noble truth 1 shatters our state of denial, it encourages us to face the existential facts and teaches us the importance of true compassion. Realising the inevitability of suffering is the first step in the process of healing and growing.
Noble Truth 2: The cause of suffering is craving.
The second noble truth alludes to the source of suffering being our own innate tendencies to project our thoughts and feelings.
This can be seen when children want to eat chocolates before bed, which they know causes cavities. (I am sure a number of adults would like to do this as well). They may avoid brushing their teeth as this may not leave the desired taste in the mouth. It is important to note taste is not a product of the food itself, rather it is a product of a complex scientific process that involves the taste buds of our tongue communicating with our brain which allows us to develop the thoughts of how the food tastes. Thus, it is important to have a sustained and rational take on our feelings, thoughts and actions.
Noble truth 2 invites us to examine the patterns of our beliefs, attitudes, values, preferences and to honestly discern between our natural tendency to project or externalize our needs, wishes and desires from the external world. By doing so, we can identify the ways of our mind that contribute to suffering.
Noble truth 3: There is the cessation of suffering.
Noble truth 3 expresses the optimism that we can overcome our suffering. When we are learning to cycle or are practicing maths as children. It is important to continue to practice even if we fall and make mistakes. It is important to focus on the experience, falling will only ensure enhanced concentration and balance. Although we have a strong tendency to confuse and distort. The third noble truth has to do with ‘letting go’ of the effort to constrain or manipulate our experience and take it as it is, the unimprisoning of mental processes.
In the real world, noble truth 3 is the result of the transformation of mind and body. In earlier forms of Buddhism, it is referred to as enlightenment.
Noble truth 4: There is a way to cease suffering - the 8-fold path
Just knowing about suffering and its causes is insufficient to liberate ourselves from our adversity. The buddha taught that durable mental health must address the multiple levels or functions that comprise our being in the world. The 8-fold path is a holistic approach based on healthy ethics and focused on harmony, balance, relationality, discernment and wisdom.
Noble 8-fold path:
1. Skillful view - correct view, an accurate understanding of the nature of things
2. Skillful Thought - correct intention, avoiding thoughts of attachment, hatred, and harmful intent
3. Skillful Action - refraining from physical misdeeds such as killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct
4. Skillful Speech - refraining from verbal misdeeds such as lying, divisive speech, harsh speech, and senseless speech
5. Skillful Livelihood - avoid trades that directly or indirectly harm others, such as selling slaves, weapons, animals for slaughter, intoxicants, or poisons
6. Skillful Effort - abandoning negative states of mind that have already arisen, and focusing on the present to sustain effort and practice
7. Skillful Mindfulness - awareness of body, feelings, thought, and phenomena (the constituents of the existing world, this is what the child focuses on from infancy to adolescence)
8. Skillful Concentration - single-mindedness-/ focus on the moment, (when we learn cycling it’s important to focus on balancing in the moment or when we crawl to focus to reach the toy at the other end of the room)
To sum up it is important to focus on the larger goal, yet be focused on what is happening in the present moment.
We tend to do this as children when believe in attaining the stars, achieving our dreams and aspirations by learning things we physically may feel are impossible.
But as we grow up, we let go of this ability and tend to fall into vicious cycles. The 8-fold path is considered to be a blue print for hope and happiness. Many obstacles prevent the mind from freeing itself from ignorance, such as lack of awareness and conditioning. These steps may free the mind of these obstacles and transform them into opportunities for growth and happiness.
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This blog has been Conceptualised Parth Bhatnagar our youth blogger and Vriti Bajaj.
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References
Eightfold Path | Summary & Eight Elements of the Path. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved February 17, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eightfold-Path
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