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**Lapsiks** · 10-12-2011, 10:46 PM

However, I don't feel like I've investigated the teachings enough to get a solid verification where I know they're true.

The teachings of Buddha are about and just about Dukkha, its understanding and the path that leads to its cessation. I appreciate this simple and concrete sutta which can give us a proper idea of what the Buddha taught:

"[...] monks, there are many more things that I have found out, but not revealed to you.[2] What I have revealed to you is only a little. And why, monks, have I not revealed it?

"Because, monks, it is not related to the goal, it is not fundamental to the holy life, does not conduce to disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, tranquillity, higher knowledge, enlightenment or Nibbaana. That is why I have not revealed it. And what, monks, have I revealed?

"What I have revealed is: 'This is Suffering, this is the Arising of Suffering, this is the Cessation of Suffering, and this is the Path that leads to the Cessation of Suffering.' And why, monks, have I revealed it?

"Because this is related to the goal, fundamental to the holy life, conduces to disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, tranquillity, higher knowledge, enlightenment and Nibbaana, therefore I have revealed it.

"The Simsapa Leaves"
Dukkha and its experience is a very intimate and personal situation to which one has to realize through the careful examination of the Four Noble Truths. If one has realized that our personal life is under the heavy burden of discomfort, stress or existential pain, then the first Noble Truth has started to put in motion the wheel of Dhamma and this first one will lead you to the rest.

To realize the First Noble Truth, as Aloka-D has mentioned, it is important to start to be in silence, to be mindful and to contemplate carefully how we experience existence.

How is it that one should go about investigating and testing the teachings? IMO, we just need to go to the teachings of Buddha, contemplate what he has stated there with the aim of understand them, reasoning them and trying to put them under practice. To practice meditation, to practice the careful contemplation of our mental states and to evaluate the results; which ones? A peaceful mind, lessening discomfort, stress and unsatisfactoriness. Later on, if you wish, you can go to practice with a group or attend a temple of the tradition that bests suits you.

An important first step is to see or contemplate how things, because of it's impermanent nature, at end or in the beginning, leads us -always- into unsatisfactoriness.

All the other advice that have been given in the thread are really good ones.

10-12-2011, 10:46 PM	#7
Lapsiks Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 725 Senior Member	However, I don't feel like I've investigated the teachings enough to get a solid verification where I know they're true. The teachings of Buddha are about and just about Dukkha, its understanding and the path that leads to its cessation. I appreciate this simple and concrete sutta which can give us a proper idea of what the Buddha taught: "[...] monks, there are many more things that I have found out, but not revealed to you.[2] What I have revealed to you is only a little. And why, monks, have I not revealed it? "Because, monks, it is not related to the goal, it is not fundamental to the holy life, does not conduce to disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, tranquillity, higher knowledge, enlightenment or Nibbaana. That is why I have not revealed it. And what, monks, have I revealed? "What I have revealed is: 'This is Suffering, this is the Arising of Suffering, this is the Cessation of Suffering, and this is the Path that leads to the Cessation of Suffering.' And why, monks, have I revealed it? "Because this is related to the goal, fundamental to the holy life, conduces to disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, tranquillity, higher knowledge, enlightenment and Nibbaana, therefore I have revealed it. "The Simsapa Leaves" Dukkha and its experience is a very intimate and personal situation to which one has to realize through the careful examination of the Four Noble Truths. If one has realized that our personal life is under the heavy burden of discomfort, stress or existential pain, then the first Noble Truth has started to put in motion the wheel of Dhamma and this first one will lead you to the rest. To realize the First Noble Truth, as Aloka-D has mentioned, it is important to start to be in silence, to be mindful and to contemplate carefully how we experience existence. How is it that one should go about investigating and testing the teachings? IMO, we just need to go to the teachings of Buddha, contemplate what he has stated there with the aim of understand them, reasoning them and trying to put them under practice. To practice meditation, to practice the careful contemplation of our mental states and to evaluate the results; which ones? A peaceful mind, lessening discomfort, stress and unsatisfactoriness. Later on, if you wish, you can go to practice with a group or attend a temple of the tradition that bests suits you. An important first step is to see or contemplate how things, because of it's impermanent nature, at end or in the beginning, leads us -always- into unsatisfactoriness. All the other advice that have been given in the thread are really good ones.
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