Dukkha Nirodha Gamini Patipada Arya Sachcha (Four Noble Truths - Part 5)

Previous posts related with Noble truths.

Four Noble Truths (Part 1)

Dukkha Arya Sachcha (Four Noble Truths - Part 2 )

Dukkha Samudaya Arya Sachcha (Four Noble Truths - Part 3)

Dukkha Nirodha Arya Sachcha (Four Noble Truths - Part 4)

The fourth one of the noble truths is Dukkha Nirodha Gamini Patipada Arya Sachcha. It is about the path for destruction of Dukkha (Suffering). To attain the Nibbana, a person must destruct the desires completely. For achieve that there is a path with eight steps and it is the only way to attain Nibbana. This path is called as "Arya Attangika Magga (noble eight-fold path)". Lets see what are those steps.

1. Samma Ditti (Right View)

This means the right vision about the world. We must see the reality of the world and its behavior as it is. For that we must have a correct understanding about four noble truths. Because  it is the reality of this world. Also we should know that,

Doing bad things (killing person/animal, lying, stealing..etc) will make us to pay in this and next births, doing good things will bring us good results  in this and next births(existence of the Karma), existence of  the worlds called heavens, hell,Brahma..etc,There will be endless rebirths after we dying (existence of the Sansara), existence of the Buddhas and Arhath Theros .

Note that the Buddha has never told people to believe things with blind eyes. He has told us to find, argue with own mind and then believe if you feel it is right. It depends on your logical abilities. Buddhism is for wise people. If you are not wise enough to understand the things then you won't attain Nibbana ever. If you really understand the Sansara then you will believe in Buddha, Dhamma(his teachings), Sangha(his followers-monks) always ).

Once you get the right vision, then you believe about the danger of this Sansara. So you are trying to attain Nibbana. For that you should control yourself by mind,words and behaviors. Because you are going for a long and uneasy battle with your desires. So you have to practice and gather your strength for this battle first. Following steps are to control yourself and prepare you for this battle.

2. Samma Sankappa(Right Intention)

Samma Sankappa is to control your thoughts. There are lot of thoughts which arise in the mind in every seconds. They can be good or bad. Most of them are related with the desires, anger and hatred. We should try to overcome those thoughts with the thoughts without desires(Nekkhamma) and kind thoughts.

3. Samma Wacha(Right Speech)

This is to control what you are talking. We should stop telling lies, bad words, meaningless speeches, gossips and snitch. Instead those, we have to practice truth, kind words and meaningful speeches always.

4. Samma Kammantha(Right Action)

Doing right things describes in here. We have to avoid all the sinful and bad things and should do the good things always. We must avoid killing, stealing, sexual misconducting, taking drugs and alcohols..etc 

5. Samma Ajiwa(Right Livehood)

This is to spend a good and right life. spend the life away with the desires,anger and hatred. We should not choose any wrong method of living to keep us alive(such as weapon dealing, salve trade, meat trade, alcohol trade, toxic trade..etc).

6. Samma Wayama(Right Effort)

This is about the efforts to purify our self. So we must have right efforts for,

• Prevent arising of the evil and unwholesome states of mind and such actions.
• Get rid of the evil and unwholesome states of mind and such actions which already arisen within ourselves.
• Produce the good and wholesome states of mind and such actions.
• Improve the good and wholesome states of mind and such actions which already arisen within ourselves.

So stepping on above path, you can control yourself eventually and then you can battle with your mind which is full with desires, anger and delusion. It won't be an easy war to defeat the desires, since It has all the advantages and power over you.

7. Samma Sathi(Right Mindfulness)

When we are aiming for Nibbana, then we should keep our mind to that purpose always.We should keep our mind steadily in the right vision we already have. This mind is an amazing thing. It is very hard to keep it in one place.It keeps running everywhere in every seconds. With this untamed mind we can not attain Nibbana. We have to practice to tame it. To do so There are four "Sathipattana" which should be keep doing in mind always .

• Kayanupassana - See the true nature of every feelings coming from five Upadanaskandha and remove desires related to them by knowing them as it is by our mind.
• Wedananupassana - When the anger and hatred thoughts arising, see them as  it is and see the bad consequences of them in mind and try to destroy that feelings when they are arising.
• Chithtanupassana - See inside the own mind and its thoughts with the eyes of wisdom. Give eyes to your blind mind and see the arising of the thoughts and destruction of them as it is with their true nature.See the types of that thoughts (such as desires,hatred, kindness etc.) and it will help you to easily identify them and deal with them properly.
• Dhammanupassana - Keep the mind about five Neewarana (five things which blocks your path to Nibbana. Hatred, sleepy mind, scattered mind, Suspicion etc), five Upadanskandha, Seven Bojjanga, four noble truths.

8. Samma Samadhi(Right Concentration)

The eighth step is the right concentration.It is about the make mind in Samadhi(also called Dyana). 

Samadhi (Dyana) is a very steady state of the mind. There are four Dyana called first Dyana.Second Dyana, third Dyana and fourth Dyana. Without having these states in mind we can not turn our mind into Nibbana. So these Dyana are the door of the Nibbana. Once you have these Dyana then your mind becomes steady and very clear. It won't get corrupted by any external things (desires,anger..etc) and it won't run everywhere in every seconds. It will become tamed for your self in any moment.So we can go for Nibbana with these steady mind with the efforts and then we can destroy desires forever. To attain these Dyana we have to practice meditations and the way of achieve these are depend on the person and his wisdom (There are many meditations for achieve Dyana and choosing them is relative for person to person).

These article series describes the four noble truths in summarized way. But it is not that much simple and there are lot of deep descriptions and practices exist about these four noble truths. It is hard to explain those things in a blog and reading related books are the best way to explore those things. 

These are the most noble and pure truths exist in this universe forever and only the Buddhas can discover and teach them to the world time to time. Wish you all to realize these noble truth and attain Nibbana to end this dangerous Sansara circle..!!!

Dukkha Nirodha Arya Sachcha (Four Noble Truths - Part 4)

Previous posts related with Noble truths.

Four Noble Truths (Part 1)
Dukkha Arya Sachcha (Four Noble Truths - Part 2 )
Dukkha Samudaya Arya Sachcha (Four Noble Truths - Part 3)

The third noble truth is Dukkha Nirodha Arya Sachcha. It is about getting away from the suffering and pain forever and end this birth and rebirth Sansara circle.

"The destruction of the Thanha (desires) completely and make them arise never again is the Dukkha Nirodha Arya Sachcha."

 The desire is also subject to the destruction and make that destruction  forever means the Nirodha. If a person can not feel any desires towards Upadanaskandha forever, then he has destructed the desires completely. Then he won't care about himself, his loved ones, his physical belongs, any lust,happy,anger or sadness feelings anymore. Because he has no any desire mixed consciousness towards anything.

"So This Dukkha Nirodha Arya Sachcha is the Nibbana (Nirvana)"

Read about the Nibbana (Nirvana) basic explanation in here.

Nibbana is the end of this desires. There is no more Upadanaskandha when a person attain Nibbana. Then there is no rebirth and there is no more a person or ego to go in this Sansara circle. So it is the end of the suffering and the pain.

Normally we call the Upadanaskandha as 'a person' when it takes as a bunch. Once that bunch got separated then there is no more a person. As an example, lets see about the concept called a 'day'. It is the combination of the sun, the earth rotation and sun light.The sun is not the 'day' when it takes alone, same applies with the earth and sun light. Same as that example when the Upadanaskandha get separated then there is no a person. The consciousness is not a person, the Roopa is not a person.

Where does this Nibbana exist?

Nibbana is not a place to exist. So there is no place or thing called Nibbana. It is kind of emptiness. There is nothing there. It is about unlinking of the Sansara circle for Upadanaskandha. once it gets un-linked then there is nothing to exist.

"How large the Sansara ? then the Nibbana is large same as it is. Because Nibbana is the cure for the Sansara."

A person must attain Nibbana in five times.He first time attains the Nibbana with the Sovan and reduces his Upadanskandha for only seven rebirths. Then he becomes Sakrudagami and removes six of that remaining Upadanskandha and only gets two rebirths.One rebirth in Kama worlds (in human world or 6 heavens) and another birth in Brahma world. It's his second time of attain the Nibbana. When he becomes Anagami, then removes existing Upadanskandha  for Kama world birth. He only gets one birth in the Brahma worlds.It's is the third time of attain the Nibbana. When he becomes  Arhath, then he removes all the Upadanskandha for any rebirth and there won't be anymore rebirths to him. It is fourth time of attain the Nibbana.Once a person become Arhath then he has only the existing Upadanaskandha because of his current birth already brought them for him. Once they get destroyed with his death then it is the fifth time of attain the Nibbana. After that there won't be that person in this universe forever.

Note that, a person can attain above steps in his current birth without going to an another birth. If a Soavn person can tried to achieve Sakrudagami, Anagami, Arhath in this life and then there is no more rebirths for him. Above rebirths are to explain if some one dies with one of that steps, then what will be his maximum rebirths. A person can finishes his all rebirths at any time. If a person has achieved at least Soavn state then he will definitely attain Nibbana within maximum seven rebirths.

Next post: Dukkha Nirodha Gamini Patipada Arya Sachcha (Four Noble Truths - Part 5)

Dukkha Samudaya Arya Sachcha (Four Noble Truths - Part 3)

Let's see the second truth of the four noble truths.It is Dukkha Samudaya Arya Sachcha. Before going to this, if you haven't read older posts of these four noble truths posts, find them in following.

Four Noble Truths (Part 1)
Dukkha Arya Sachcha (Four Noble Truths - Part 2 )

Dukkha Samudaya means the reason for the suffering and pain. As we discussed about the Dukkha, What do you think about the reason for the suffering and pain? Can you guess? The reason is the desires (called Thanha in Pali).

Everything in this universe is subject to the changing. Everything is changing in every second. We are trying to own them always.That is called desire.But we can not own them forever. Because of the changing, one day they will go away from us. That makes the pain in our mind.

Every living being in this Sansara  want to exist themselves in this universe. So that desire is binded with five Upadanaskandha. It makes the ego for a person. So desires grab the five Upadanaskandha. So five Upadanaskandha occurs and die every moment and the desires make it keep going without ending. That makes the consciousness to grab an another birth in a death with the help of the Karma.

A person has a desire about himself. It is the very tight and comes first always. Then his loved ones and then his properties. If they are lost then pain and suffering occurs.As an example, It is hard to bear the loose of the home and job, But if a death of the wife or a son is greater than that pain. But damage to own body is most painful among all of them. But if there are no desires then there won't be pain or suffering towards any of them.

Why we are not affaraid of the Sansara? If it is that much painful then why still we are love to five Upadanaskandha? Why we are not going to give up it? Because this five Upadanaskandha can be enjoyed. And also it gives effects too. But what we see is enjoyable status only. That's why we still love it. But Buddha and Bikkhu and other people who were/are in the Nibbana path had/have realized the effects of it.That's why they didn't/don't enjoy it. five Upadanaskandha is like a poisoned cake. we enjoy it without caring its painful effects in this Sansara.

There are three categories in the desires (Thanha)

• Kama Thanha - The desire to enjoy  the five Upadanaskandha          

• Bhawa Thanha  - The desire to make rebirths again and again in the Sansara and enjoy the five Upadanaskandha in that rebirths.

• Wibhawa Thanha  - Thinking that there is no Sansara and no rebirths, this is the only birth and only life and then enjoy  the five Upadanaskandha maximum.

So with these Thanha (desires) we keep continuing our birth and rebirths and it brings us endless pain and suffering. But unfortunately we are blind to see it yet!

Next post: Dukkha Nirodha Arya Sachcha (Four Noble Truths - Part 4)

Dukkha Arya Sachcha (Four Noble Truths - Part 2 )

(Read previous post Four Noble Truths (Part 1))

Dukkha Arya Sachcha describes what is Dukkha. The English meaning of the Dukka is 'suffering' or 'pain'. But what is actually meant by Dukka?

"Where the five Upadanaskandha exist, then the suffering is there too, Where the world exists the suffering is there too"

          - Buddha - 

What is this five Upadanaskandha? 

five Upadanaskandha = Roopa + Wedana + Sagngna + Sanskara + Vigngnana 

five Upadanaskandha  = forms + feelings + perception + volition + consciousness

Everything in the universe are the combinations of Patawi (solidity), Apo (liquidity), Thejo (Heat) Wayo (gaseous), Vigngnana (consciousness), Akasa (Emptyness)

Roopa (forms ) = Something arises from Patawi (solidity), Apo (liquidity), Thejo (Heat), Wayo (gaseous)

Person = Roopa + Vigngnana (consciousness)

Wedana (feelings) = The feelings which is in the Roopa.

Sagngna (perception ) = The identification which  is in the Roopa

Sanskara (volition ) = The purpose which  is in the Roopa

Vigngnana (consciousness) = The knowing which  is in the Roopa

now lets see how the Roopa combine with other Upadanaskandha

Internal  Roopa	External Roopa	Feelings	Perception	Volition	Consciousness
eyes	images	Sukha(good/luxury), Dukkha(bad/pain), Upekkha (moderate)	Identify the images	Seeing	Consciousness about the images(Chakkhu Wigngnana)
ears	sound	Sukha, Dukkha, Upekkha	Identify the sound	listening	Consciousness about the sound(Sotha Wigngnana)
nose	smell	Sukha, Dukkha, Upekkha	Identify the smell	smelling	Consciousness about  the smell(Ghana Wigngnana)
tongue	taste	Sukha, Dukkha, Upekkha	Identify the taste	tasting	Consciousness about the taste(Jiwha Wigngnana)
body	touch(heat,pain.. etc all include here)	Sukha, Dukkha, Upekkha	Identify the touch	getting the touch	Consciousness about the touch(Kaya Wigngnana)
mind	Dhamma Roopa	Sukha, Dukkha, Upekkha	Identify the Dhamma Roopa	thinking, walking, eating etc.	Consciousness about the mind(Mano Wigngnana)

So this five Upadanaskandha bring the suffering to us. Buddha has told that "where the world exists ,then the  suffering is there too". In here the world means not the earth. It means the body which has the consciousness.

There are main twelve sufferings which occur from the five Upadanaskandha and we have to realize them by our own mind.

1. Birth (Jathi)

The birth and rebirth is a pain. We can get a birth in any place in this Sansara. There is no ending for this. There is no place to birth without suffering. There is no guarantee to get a birth in good places only. A god can get birth as a dog in another birth. So it is a pain.

2. Getting Old (Jara)

There is no need to explain this. Because all know that the getting old is very painful. That's why many people trying to stop it or hide it with lot of chemicals. But no way you can get away from it.When we are getting old, we loose our body and it will become an another peace of dried wood.No matter you are a king or a beggar. you all are getting old in every second.

3. Sickness (Wyadhi)

Getting sick is painful. If you get a lethal sickness how will you feel it. You will become a hopeless one. We do not want to go that far. Let's think about getting flu badly. how is that feeling? If you get injured, how is the pain? So sickness is a pain.

4. Death (Marana)

If we get a birth, then we definitely get a death too. Everything we earned  have to be gave up inside our tomb.We just have to give up the own body,all our loved ones, every assets, everything. How painful it is?

5.  Sadness (Soka)

No need to tell about the sadness. It is a pain. If something not happened as you wished then it brings sadness to you.

6. Crying (Paridewa)

If you could not bear above sadness the next step is crying and it is a pain.

7. Pain in the body (Dukkha)

The pain of the body. Think about how long we can stand up or sit? In whatever the positions, we feel the pain after a while. So it is a suffering.

8. Pain in mind (Domanassa)

If there are unbearable things in the mind, then it brings the pain to you. As an example, if you have done something wrong you will feel guilty later. Such pains are called Domanassa.

9.  Trying to live (Upayasa)

How hard we are trying to live? We do lot of things to keep us alive. Let's think about doing a job? how is it? How does a deer trying to keep it alive from the tigers? Loosers will fail in the life competition always. So efforts to live is a big pain.

10. Lost the things/people which we loved (Piyehi Wippayogo)

If we lost our home, job, family member, friend, how we feel it? That pain is unbearable.

11. Meet the things/people which we do not like (Appiyehi Sampayogo)

The opposite of the above. It is a pain to meet or live with the people/ things which we hate.

12. Not getting what we wished (Yam Pichjan na Labhathi Thampi Dukkhan)

We always wish for good things. But will it become true always? No! So it is a pain.

So these things are the main sufferings which we face every moment in this endless Sansara. So identifying these things mean you realize the Dukka Arya Sachcha. But do we really realize these? You and me have failed to realize this Dukkha yet. We all are deceived with an illution which hides real Dukkha of the world.

Next post:  Dukkha Samudaya Arya Sachcha (Four Noble Truths - Part 3)

Four Noble Truths (Part 1)

Four noble truths are the core of the Buddhism teachings. These four is called as Arya Sachcha in Pali. These are the only truths which exist in this universe forever.

All Samma Sambuddhas and Pachcheka Buddhas in this universe realize these noble truths by their own. No others can understand these things by their own, except them. Only the Samma Sambuddhas can teach them to the world in time to time in this endless Sansara.  There are times without the Buddhas births and in that times we can not hear the words called "Arya Sachcha"  even. So it is very rare to hear these truths in this Sansara.

Noble truths are the only path to the Nirvana. Without realize them no one attains Nirvana. These truths are very deep and have lot of details in each steps (In here I'm just giving brief introduction to them only). After you read these articles sometimes you may think as "what is this? how simple it is? ". But believe me it is not like that. If we can understand these truths in deep we just  give up everything, every desires in that moment instantly. What we know is nothing about these. If any one can really understand these truths, then he becomes a Arya (noble) person and he removes links between the Sansara and himself.

Noble truths describe the Sansara, reason to this Sansara, how to get away with it and the path for it. Gauthama Buddha's first Dhamma sermon is Dhammachakkappawaththana Suthra and it is about the nobles truths. Buddha had preached about noble truths to the humans, the gods and the Brahmas in so many times and many of them attained Nibbana with those Dhamma sermons. So these are very great and glorious teachings of the Buddha. Following are four noble truths and lets see the detailed description about each one in future posts.

1. Dukkha Arya Sachcha
2. Dukkha Samudaya Arya Sachcha
3. Dukkha Nirodha Arya Sachcha
4. Dukkha Nirodha Gamini Patipada Arya Sachcha