The Four

Noble Truths

Life

is full

of

suffering

and sorrow

Caused by

greed and

desire for

power,

pleasure,

and

possessions

Suffering

and sorrow

will end

when

people

reach

Nirvana

Nirvana

reached by

following the

Middle Way

or the

Eightfold

Path

Buddhism

The Four Noble Truths:

1. Human life is full of suffering and sorrow

2. Suffering and sorrow are caused by people’s

greedy desire for power, pleasure and

possessions

3. Suffering and sorrow will end when people

overcome their greed = Nirvana = enlightenment

4. People can overcome their greed and

uncontrolled desires by adopting the Middle Way

or Eightfold Path

Buddhism

The Four Noble Truths:

Human life is full of suffering and sorrow

We distract ourselves from what we are and can be

Buddha specifies six occasions when life's

distraction is evident to anyone, rich or poor:

(1) the shock of birth

(2) the causes and effects of sickness

(3) the increasing rate of old age

Buddhism

The Four Noble Truths:

Human life is full of suffering and sorrow

We distract ourselves from what we are and can be

Buddha specifies six occasions when life's

distraction is evident to anyone, rich or poor:

(4) the unreasonable fear of death

(5) to be tied to what one hates

(6) to be separated from what one loves

Buddhism

The Four Noble Truths:

Suffering and sorrow are caused by people’s greedy

desire for power, pleasure and possessions

The cause of life's dislocation is the excessive

concern for self fulfillment.

Buddha did not advocate the extinction of all desire

(e.g., the desire for liberation or the desire for the

welfare of other human beings).

Buddhism

The Four Noble Truths:

Suffering and sorrow are caused by people’s greedy

desire for power, pleasure and possessions

Buddhism

The Four Noble Truths:

Buddhism

The Four Noble Truths:

Buddhism

The Four Noble Truths:

Buddhism

The Four Noble Truths:

Suffering and sorrow are caused by people’s greedy

desire for power, pleasure and possessions

In a group photograph, we look for our own picture

first.

Where is the person who would sacrifice his loved

ones for the sake of ending world hunger?

Buddhism

The Four Noble Truths:

Suffering and sorrow will end when people

overcome their greed = Nirvana = enlightenment

If the cause of life's dislocation is selfish wanting,

then its cure lies in the overcoming of selfish

wanting.

Buddhism

The Four Noble Truths:

People can overcome their greed and uncontrolled

desires by adopting the Middle Way or Eightfold

Path

The program offering specific steps to overcome

excessive selfish wanting is given as the Eightfold

Path.

Preliminary Step is right association: Training for a

life of the spirit is made less difficult if you can be

with others who seek the same things.

Right View

Buddhism

The Eightfold Path or Middle Way:

1. Right View or Understanding:

• The existence of suffering and pain due to greed

and the desire for power, pleasure, and

possessions

• Everything is temporary and changes

• There is no separate individual self—We are all

part of one

Human life is full of suffering and sorrow

Right View

Right Resolve

Buddhism

The Eightfold Path or Middle Way:

2. Right Resolve or Determination:

• Give up what is wrong and evil

• Undertake what is good

• Abandon thoughts having to do with bringing

suffering to any being

• Cultivate thoughts of loving kindness based on

caring for others’ suffering and joy in others’

happiness

Human life is full of suffering and sorrow

Right View

Right Resolve

Right Speech

Buddhism

The Eightfold Path or Middle Way:

Human life is full of suffering and sorrow

3. Right Speech:

•Abstain from telling lies

•Abstain from talk that brings harm or discredit to

others

Buddhism

The Eightfold Path or Middle Way:

3. Right Speech continued:

•Abstain from talk that creates hatred or disharmony

between individuals or groups

•Abstain from harsh, rude, impolite or abusive

language

•Abstain from idle, useless, and foolish gossip

•Practice kindly speech, meaningful speech, and

harmonious speech

Right View

Right Resolve

Right Speech

Right Conduct

Buddhism

The Eightfold Path or Middle Way:

Suffering and sorrow are caused by people’s

greedy desire for power, pleasure and

possessions

4. Right Conduct or Action:

•Abstain from dishonest dealings

•Foster what is good, peaceful, and honorable

•Do things that are moral and honest and that end

suffering

Right View

Right Resolve

Right Speech

Right Conduct

Right Livelihood

Buddhism

The Eightfold Path or Middle Way:

5. Right Livelihood:

•Abstain from making your living from activities or

occupations that bring harm and suffering to humans

or animals

Suffering and sorrow are caused by people’s greedy

desire for power, pleasure and possessions

Right View

Right Resolve

Right Speech

Right Conduct

Right Livelihood

Right Effort

Buddhism

The Eightfold Path or Middle Way:

6. Right Effort:

•Foster good and prevent evil

•Work on yourself—engage in self-improvement

•Everything must be done with a sense of proper

balance between trying too hard and not trying hard

enough

People can overcome their greed and uncontrolled

desires by adopting the Middle Way or Eightfold

Path

Right View

Right Resolve

Right Speech

Right Conduct

Right Livelihood

Right Effort

Right Mindfulness

Buddhism

The Eightfold Path or Middle Way:

7. Right Mindfulness:

•Build right attention

•Avoid whatever clouds your mental awareness

•Systematically and intentionally develop awareness

People can overcome their greed and

uncontrolled desires by adopting the

Middle Way or Eightfold Path

Right View

Right Resolve

Right Speech

Right Conduct

Right Livelihood

Right Effort

Right Mindfulness

Right Meditation

Buddhism

The Eightfold Path or Middle Way:

8. Right Concentration:

•Developed by practicing meditation

•Meditation must be done continuously

•Meditation should include awareness of body,

emotions, thought, and mind objects

People can overcome their greed and

uncontrolled desires by adopting the

Middle Way or Eightfold Path

BuddhismEightfold Path Summary Axioms of the Good Life

1. Right Knowledge (Views) Wisdom

2. Right Aspiration (Resolution)

3. Right Speech

4. Right Behavior (Action) Ethical Conduct

5. Right Livelihood

6. Right Effort Mental Discipline

7. Right Mindfulness

8. Right Absorption (Concentration)

Right View

Right Resolve

Right Speech

Right Conduct

Right Livelihood

Right Effort

Right Mindfulness

Right Meditation

BuddhismFive Basic Precepts of Buddhism:

1. Abstain from killing living beings—practice

love

2. Abstain from taking the not-given—practice

generosity and giving

3. Abstain from sexual misconduct—practice

contentment

4. Abstain from false speech—practice

truthfulness

5. Abstain from taking intoxicating

substances—practice awareness and

mental clarity

Theravada Buddhism

The oldest school of Buddhism.

The “Way of the Elders” or the

“Small Vehicle.”

Found in southern Asia.

The monastic life is the best way

to achieve nirvana.

Theravada Buddhism

Focus on wisdom and meditation.

Goal is to become a “Buddha,”

or “Enlightened One.”

Over 100,000,000 followers today

Theravada Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhism

The “Great Vehicle.”

Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).

Buddhism “for the masses.”

Seek guidance from Boddhisatvas, wise

beings.

Goal: Not just individual escape from the

wheel, but the salvation of all humanity

through self-sacrifice of those enlightened

few.

Mahayana Buddhism