The Four Noble Truths - an example

Contributor: Michelle Smeby

The Four Noble Truths are a teaching from Gautama Buddha that explains how all people can attain true happiness in life. Through the Four Noble Truths, Gautama Buddha found a way to help people recognize the true source of their unhappiness, so that they could find their own way to peace, love, and harmony. No one can make us happy; we must find it ourselves.

The Four Noble Truths are as follows:

The Nature of Dukkha:
Dukkha has been translated as suffering, unhappiness, sickness, and death. The first noble truth is to understand the nature of what we perceive as suffering, what we are feeling right now. In order to free ourselves we must first understand what we are experiencing.
The Origin of Dukkha:
What is causing our unhappiness? From what are our feelings arising? Now that we have identified what we are feeling, we must seek the true source. Without understanding the source, we will not be able to free ourselves from our suffering.
The Cessation of Dukkha:
I think of this as letting go of the control that I have allowed the origin of the Dukkha to have over me. Now that I know from where my unhappiness is coming, I need to relinquish the power I have given to this source. The only way for me to be free is to allow myself to be free - to not give the control of my life and feelings to someone or something that is not serving my best and highest good, and that is causing me pain. Meditation and walks in nature are ways I have personally found to free my mind and emotions from the cause of my suffering.
The Path Leading to the Cessation of Dukkha:
This final noble truth is all about choice. Now that I understand that I have been unhappy, I know the reason for my unhappiness, and have identified the way to let it go, now it is up to me. Am I going to choose to walk the path where I do not return to the old habits of allowing this unhappiness to arise again? Am I going to put my energy into new, productive efforts that cause me joy? Am I going to replace what had not been working with something that feels right and good in my life? The choice is up to me.

The following is a dream I had in which the Four Noble Truths were clearly illustrated to me, that I hope will help you in your journey through life:

The Nature of Dukkha:
I was invited to attend an orchestral concert that my close friend was very excited about attending. She was completely swept away by the talent of the musicians, and the beauty of the music. I sat in my chair and sulked - I did not like concerts, thought this was a waste of my time, and would rather be anywhere else. I was not enjoying myself at all.
The Origin of Dukkha:
Why was I so upset? I love music, and appreciate when people are able to make a living doing something they passionately love. What was going on? I had a flashback to a time when I was a little girl, and I desperately wanted to go to a birthday party. My mother told me that I was not going to be able to go to this particular party because my grandmother had gotten us tickets to hear an orchestra. I sat and sulked the entire time, though the music was expertly performed, and an oboe was featured (and I had played oboe as a child). Through my selfish focus on what I did not get (being able to go to the birthday party), it clouded my ability to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of what was going on around me.
The Cessation of Dukkha:
OK, so I now knew that the reason for my displeasure was because I mentally associated attending concerts with not getting something I had wanted as a child. I had developed an emotional pattern that I did not like concerts, and so was continuing this pattern into adulthood. Did I want to continue to behave this way? Wouldn't I be much happier if I could approach each concert as an opportunity to hear talented performers doing something they loved? What if I changed my attitude to let go of the one birthday party I had missed as a child, and instead focused on the love my mother and grandmother had for music, and wanted to instill in me? This concert was a chance for me to let go of the emotional baggage, and enjoy the moment I was missing because I was convincing myself that I was suffering.
The Path Leading to the Cessation of Dukkha:
So now the choice is up to me. I can sit and enjoy the beautiful music, and allow myself to forgive everyone involved with the past (including myself for clinging to this emotional pattern). I can choose to eagerly accept invitations to future concerts, as chances for me to hear new music, and to give me an opportunity to practice letting go of the past patterns that no longer serve me. Or, I can continue to wallow in what I did not get as a small child (though I cannot even remember the name of the child whose party I missed so many years ago). The choice is up to me.

I like to think of my spiritual journey like a sport I am learning to play: it requires practice. Even professional athletes must practice regularly in order to remain in the best condition they can. Please do not be discouraged if old patterns arise, or if something you thought you let go of suddenly arises again in a new situation. Each incidence of dukkha is truly an opportunity for us to develop a new path leading to the cessation of dukkha. And I am startled by how often the choices that arise bring even deeper happiness and laughter than I ever thought possible in my life!