[scoundtrack]

Thankyou for your welcome,

I have read through the literature, it gave me allot to think about, if I may, below I will say to you what I think that is about and if you could breifly correct me where neccessary I would be most grateful, I would put this elsewhere in the forum but I found it relevant to your above post so I hope you do not mind.

The 4 Noble truths, there not avoidable there not scientific as such they just are, well the truth, all backgrounds and religions wether budhist or not will go through these truths, how they recognise them or act upon decides weather or not they are budhist.

It is still slightly confusing, it says that if someone comes up to you and is rude, you wish well, does this mean literally, withing your mind, for example if you know them hope they get something material they want such as that new promotion or is it more wish a long and full life on them.

So number one I totally agree with, weather or not we initially like the feelings they willalways be there, but leading to number to how we deal with those feelings dictates the future... (Is this karma, good things happy to good people and bad things to bad people), so would making the feelings no longer personal, taking out the feeling or being responsible for the situation be the goal of the truth to lead to number three Cesastion

Number three, is the Cessation, I assume this means accepting you can not change what has happened to you need to look to the present time and act accordingly to prevent spiraling despair and other sad , angry emotions taking over make the future dark and unhappy.

I did not notice, the Fourth truth in there, maybe I missed it but I re read it a few times and did not notice it so I can not comment.

Sorry if this makes no sense its all so confusing, although I think that document has seperated some of the thoughts in my mind as somethings make a bit more sense, I see it as if you allow yourself to feel negatively, if you blame yourself you will never be able to to cease the feelings where as if you accept and move on you can reach an inner peace so to speak. is this the basic principle of budhism, letting go of pain and suffering for yourself and wishing well on others in the hope that one day they too will be able to not take the negatives personally and let them go. Is it ok to intervene if you see a loved one suffering, and try to walk them through the noble truths or is this against the beliefs.

Sorry for the confusing post, I want to meditate but with so much on my mind at this specific moment I cant see myself being able to unfocus my mind, untill I understand more. I will now go and read BFB and see if i can learn anythingfurther..

Thankyou, peace be with you always.

[Kneeniasy]

Meditation will eventually help you to experience reality directly but it is not something to be rushed into. First, taking your time, just browse the general information about Buddhism you can find here and elsewhere on the net and in books. Then when you feel you are ready and settled in a peaceful time and place you might like to experiment with a bit of meditating. At first you will find it far from peaceful as thoughts and emotions might seem to come out in a bit of a rush at first - this is because your mind is not used to being examined, so at first it seems in turmoil. But stick with it - go back to the object of your focus (usually the breath is used to start with).

If you find meditation pleasant, consider setting yourself a regular time to sit for 10 or 15 minutes to start with. Early morning when the mind is most fresh is recommended but you might find his difficult or impractical so you could choose to sit in the evening. Go by following a meditation teaching by some respectable teacher on a video clip and when you can seek out a qualified teacher in real life, one you can ask questions to about your experiences.

[Mboxmaja]

Here is a good video on the practice of meditation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1DEzoszzZo

[CamVideoQl]

Hi Justen

I'm sorry but I don't have time right now to go into the specific details of your post #1, so I suggest careful reading of the resources at this link below for more information about The Four Noble Truths and also he's included a section about aspects of meditation towards the end of the contents list.

It's by Ajahn Sumedho who's a well known Buddhist teacher and this particular resource is widely recommended for the study of The Four Noble Truths.

http://www.buddhanet.net/4noble.htm

Some information and advice about meditation can also be found in a thread in our study links section at the bottom of the main forums page.

http://www.buddhismwithoutboundaries...356-Meditation

I think you might find Ajahn Jayasaro's excellent series of short 'Buddhist Meditation' videos helpful.

with kind wishes

Aloka

[estelle]

To searching 1990,
At the beginning ,Buddhism is very confusing,until someone explains the working of it all.You seem very stressed right now,You speak of a litterature,what was it?who gave it to you?

.Buddhism is about learning and unlearning other stuff.The Four Noble Truth and The Noble Eighfold Path are the path to enlightenment. Cessation is when someone has attained Nirvana ,ridding himself of Dhukka or suffering

.Let us breathe for a moment.I sense the febrility in your post. It seems ,you want to understand and undergo everything at the same time.


If possible, answer me back ,giving me the litterature you speak about.and we can start slowly if you so desire, unravel what seems to be a mish mash right now.


a simple buddhist named loong

[saopinax]

I did not notice, the Fourth truth in there, maybe I missed it but I re read it a few times and did not notice it so I can not comment.

Hi again Justen,

Very briefly, the First Noble Truth recognises that we experience distress/dissatisfaction/mental suffering (dukkha) mostly through attachment to what we consider is "I" and "mine".

The Second Noble Truth recognises that we suffer because of ignorance and craving/clinging/ attachment (upadana)

The Third Noble Truth is recognising that release/letting go of craving and attachment is possible.

.....and then the Fourth Noble Truth is the way of doing that through The Noble Eightfold Path.


For further clarification and study, check the resource already mentioned in # 4


with kind wishes

Aloka

[somamasoso]

The 4 Noble truths, there not avoidable there not scientific as such they just are, well the truth, all backgrounds and religions wether budhist or not will go through these truths, how they recognise them or act upon decides weather or not they are budhist.

Number three, is the Cessation, I assume this means accepting you can not change what has happened to you need to look to the present time and act accordingly to prevent spiraling despair and other sad , angry emotions taking over make the future dark and unhappy.

I did not notice, the Fourth truth in there, maybe I missed it but I re read it a few times and did not notice it so I can not comment.

I see it as if you allow yourself to feel negatively, if you blame yourself you will never be able to to cease the feelings where as if you accept and move on you can reach an inner peace so to speak.

is this the basic principle of budhism, letting go of pain and suffering for yourself and wishing well on others in the hope that one day they too will be able to not take the negatives personally and let them go.

Is it ok to intervene if you see a loved one suffering, and try to walk them through the noble truths or is this against the beliefs.

dear Justen

the four noble truths are as follows:

1. the 1st truth lists the experiences that are suffering to people: sickness, death, sorrow, pain, despair, separation, attachment, etc

2. the 2nd truth explains the cause of suffering, which is desire: desire for sensual pleasure, desire to be & desire not to be

3. the 3rd truth explains the experience of the cessation of suffering, which happens when desire ends

4. the 4th truth is about The Way to end suffering, which is using the 8 Fold Path

therefore, if we are to use the 4 Noble Truths to end suffering, we focus on ending desire

for example, despair & angry emotions are often caused by desire & expectation, such as wanting something & not getting it. when we want something & do not get it, this creates anger & despair

or blaming oneself can also an example of unrealistic desire & expectation. nobody is born into the world with perfect knowledge. everybody makes unskilful or naive actions, which can result in not acheiving what one wants. therefore, to expect we should always act perfectly & to blame oneself is an unrealistic expectation

as you said, acceptance is the way to end suffering because acceptance is the letting go of desires & expectations

kind regards

Nick

[RgtrsKfR]

....so would making the feelings no longer personal, taking out the feeling or being responsible for the situation be the goal of the truth to lead to number three Cessation

hi again Justen,

In re-reading this question, i can offer two answers:

(1) Yes. In relation to past events, taking out the feeling of being responsible will lead to Cessation of suffering. Buddha taught we are not personally responsible for suffering. Buddha taught the thing that is responsible for suffering is ignorance or not-knowing. If we realise not-knowing (avicca) is responsible for suffering, we can forgive & learn more easily

(2) However, when we develop the 8 Fold Path, it is training to try to act more skilfully, with more wisdom, therefore training in being more responsible. But, yes, until we are fully enlightened, we can never be perfect. Ignorance still remains (so we can continue to blame 'ignornance' rather than 'ourself' when situations don't work out)

Kind regards

[qzgCVHex]

Thankyou, The literature I have read, is that provided by Aloka, very useful but at the same time allot to take in, the hardest part is when you read two documents by two different Buddhists they both have two very different opinions even though there final goal is the same.

It might have been on here or somewhere else but I read a passage, something about Budhism being like a long wide road, to me this says that there is one final destination (that of being fully awake) but many different ways you can get there, not just a single path that you MUST stay on, but it still has the boundaries of the rules that all Buddhists follow which to me is represented by the each edge of the metaphorical road.

I think im just finding hard to find which path is right for me.

I hope this makes sense.

Peace be with.

[Heclailia]

Thankyou, The literature I have read, is that provided by Aloka, very useful but at the same time allot to take in...

Ajahn Sumedho tends to talks alot. Imo, it is best if we try to simplify the Dhamma.

Buddha taught very briefly and taught suffering is caused by desire (craving), which is bound up in liking & disliking.

It is best to investigate these realities for ourself, based in our experience.

Liking & disliking; desire to be, desire to have; desire to not be; desire to not have; desire to not experience, etc

Kind regards

[exsmoker]

Dear Searching,
I just saw your answer in post#9.Like I told you in my post ,Buddhism is a vey complex and again at the same time simple.

Aloka-D sent you ,as he mentionned did not have much time,on a site that is advanced in some ways.

.For a beginner or someone that wants something simpler go to
http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/ .Everything is there,simple to read ,in simple words
.
So let us try it this way,If you please.I have been using this site since 2007 with much success and then if you want move to more elaborate texts.Then you can go to other Masters.


Please read these texts very slowly with love for yourself and with the Buddha in you.

a simple buddhist named
loong

[gortusbig]

Aloka-D sent you ,as he mentionned did not have much time,on a site that is advanced in some ways.

.For a beginner or someone that wants something simpler go to
http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/ .Everything is there,simple to read ,in simple words Actually I'm a woman, I'm not a 'he' !

Personally I never recommend the Big View site before other alternatives . I'd always suggest browsing Buddhanet instead, because its a much better site and there are many more resources and different Buddhist study sections there. There are also sections suitable for schools and for children of all ages, as well as the adult learning level.


http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/index.htm

[AlexanderDrew]

To Aloka-D,
To you ,Buddhanet may seem a better site.I ,hope I may differ.A child ,first grader,can be teached by different teacher with different views on one subject
,.The Big view site took me from the unknown of what my teacher
a brit called Jinavamsi,that always answered my questions as if I was a scientists,
searched and searched to try to understand his answers.

I beleive in simple readings for first graders and then on to more elaborate teachings, when they have ,understood the simple basics,of Bhuddhism.
.

With loving Kindness
a simple buddhist called
loong

[AricGoffgog]

To Aloka-D,
To you ,Buddhanet may seem a better site.I ,hope I may differ.A child ,first grader,can be teached by different teacher with different views on one subject
,.The Big view site took me from the unknown of what my teacher
a brit called Jinavamsi,that always answered my questions as if I was a scientists,
searched and searched to try to understand his answers.

Sure, no problem, we're both entitled to express our opinions about resources.

I beleive in simple readings for first graders and then on to more elaborate teachings, when they have ,understood the simple basics,of Bhuddhism

Yes, and as I already mentioned, you'll find study resources at Buddhanet which begin at small child level and go upwards to adult level....and that's not available at Thomas Knierim's website. But whatever, no worries, lol !


.

[RerRibreLok]

Firstly um sorry Aloka, in the most honest and not deliberately offensive way possible, i to thought you where a he, now im really confused, they say you cant judge a book by its cover, and now you have proven that you cant judge by the words...............there is a lesson in there somewhere, dont be judgemental at all because something somewhere will trip you up....per sei a he saying he is actually a she not a he. :-):-):-).

Back on to topic, thank you for all the resources, its just so much to take in, then the other day a friend asked ooo Budhist (he saw me fill in an application form) and he said what kind of budhist which path are you following, i almost felt like a fake not being able to answer.

[KeestRast]

Hi Searching.
Odd, but your O.P. made quite a bit of sense to me.

I am an amateur, but this does not make my intentions wrong.

I think we sometimes learn from unlikely places.