And what, Monks,
is the Noble Truth of
the Cessation of Suffering?
It is the complete fading away and
cessation of this very craving,
its giving up
and relinquishment,
the liberation and
detachment
from it.
NOTE :
The Third Noble Truth refers to
the attainment of Nibbana
which is realized through
the abandonment and
cessation of craving.
And what, Monks,
is the Noble Truth of Suffering?
Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, death is suffering,
sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief, and despair, are suffering.
Association with the unloved is suffering.
Separation from the loved is suffering.
Not to get what one wants is suffering.
In short, the five aggregates*
of clinging are suffering.
*The five aggregates are material from, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness. They are called aggregates of clinging because we cling to them and take them as I, ‘mine’, or ‘myself’.
NOTE :
The Pali word ‘dukkha’ here translated as suffering refers to the unsatifactoriness inherent in the mind and body and in all forms of existence.
And what, Monks,
is the Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering?
It is that craving which gives rises to rebirth,
which is accompanied by delight and lust,
and which delights now in this, now in that;
that is, craving for sensual pleasures,
craving for being,
and craving for non-being.
NOTE:
The Pali word for craving is ‘tanha’
which has been given various metaphors such as that
of a creeper which weaves and twines around everywhere,
or a seamstress who ‘sews’ and links us like threads from one
life to another, or a river which flows on continously.
Synonyms for tanha are lobha (greed); kammachanda (sensual
desire); raga (lust); abhijja (covetousness).
Do not pursue the past.
Do not lose yourself in the future.
The past no longer is.
The future has not yet come.
Looking deeply at life as it is.
in the very here and now,
the practitioner dwells in
stability and freedom.
We must be diligent today.
To wait until tomorrow is too late.
Death comes unexpectedly.
How come we bargain with it?
The sage calls a person
who knows how to dwell in
mindfulness night and day,
“one who knows
the better way to live alone”.
SUPREME BLEESING
Not to follow or
associate with fools,
to associate with the wise,
and honour those
who are worthy of honour.
This is the Supreme Blessing.
DO NOT ASSOCIATE WITH THE FOOLS
Should a seeker fails to find
one better or equal,
steadfast he should fare alone
for a fool’s no fellowship.
