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4x Truths - Fourth - Magga

INTRODUCTION | FIRST | SECOND | THIRD | FOURTH

final few pieces 		The third Noble Truth points to the end (cessation) of suffering. This implies finality - the end - the reaching of the goal - liberation. It is in fact a transcendant truth and on one level you need go no further. However, making the transition from grasping to non-grasping is outside most people's ability. So, a set of instructions - a manual, a guide - and/or access to someone that has made a committed study of the teachings is very useful. Ideally, perhaps even more important, is finding someone who embodies these teachings in their daily life; a teacher. As with any journey having friends along the way is very supportive, but not always possible.

So, teacher or no, you've made some inroads into the theory/doctrine of the first three truths. It sounds reasonable enough. If only... if I could just flip the non-grasping, non-becoming switch? I can't quite get those last few (many?) pieces into place.
This fourth truth is the Buddha's strategy on how to do that - ie. what to do to realise the third truth. This page looks at a few basic principles in relation to this truth. You can explore the Eight-fold Path in more detail here  § .

In the third truth we briefly looked at dependant orignination and saw that: "When this is, that is." We see that dukkha has causes - there are conditions that, when present, dukkha arises. And - the third truth - when those conditions are absent - dukkha is absent. The third truth has a finality - it either is or it is not - but there are degrees. When 45% of the causal conditions are absent then 45% of the dukkha is absent? Never mind questioning the precision of the mathematics how about the principle? Is this something you have already experienced in your life in relation to some of your (negatively causal) habitual patterns? I imagine so. The principle here is that we can create conditions that support the arising of freedom (ease, relaxation, peace...) and avoid conditions that cause the arising of dukkha. A very workable summary of this principle is found in the Dhammapada: "Do good, refrain from wrong and purify the mind." [mp3 version -  § ]. Good action has good result and bad action has bad result.


patience...
and care 		There is a tendency to want to quantify the process - if I give $x to charity or if I smoke 5 less cigarettes, or if I...? What will be the result? How much happier will I be? The law of cause and effect [see: kamma  § ] is not that simple. One analogy is of a gardener. The soil is prepared, the seeds planted; weeding, watering, fertilizer - and patience. The fruit, and the quality of the fruit, will appear relative to many conditions. We can't control the final outcome but we can participate in many of the supporting factors. It is important to give real value to this principle - cause and effect; action and result.

There are quite specific suggestions, both in the Eight-fold path and the teaching generally, around what those supporting factors are - ie. what is good and what is not. However we each have to find the right balance to suit our individual situation. Gardeners each begin with different soils.

The Buddha's teaching is often referred to as the 'Middle Way' - between sensual indulgence and extreme renunciation. In the Dhamma Cakka Sutta the eight-fold path is presented as this point of balance. Each of the eight factors is prefaced with the Pali word 'samma' = perfect, correct, balanced, right. So, we try various implementations of the different factors and observe the result. Our 'card house' wobbles or comes tumbling down? Try another approach.
"Patience is the highest austerity."
      Dhammapada 184


good stuff 		The Eight-fold Path is commonly encountered as a three-fold grouping: morality, concentration, wisdom. This structure reflects the earlier verse. Morality is doing good (and refraining from wrong), meditation is purifying the mind, wisdom is both result and purification.

In the introduction we looked at the four truths collectively under the heading dhamma-vinaya - 'teaching-practice' or 'doctrine-discipline'. The fourth truth repeats this common term for the Buddha's dispensation. The 'wisdom' group reflecting the teachings and the morality and concentration group reflecting the training and discipline aspect.

The key factor, the critical link with all this is actually implementing your plan. You have to do it. The teachings - and possible teacher - can provide suggestions but only you can make it work. In the analogy of the doctor - diagnosis, cause, prognosis, medicine - all is wasted if you don't take the medicine. Gulp!!

INTRODUCTION | FIRST | SECOND | THIRD | FOURTH