The Four Noble Truths

At the heart of the teaching of the Buddha lie the Four Noble Truths. They explain the idea of suffering. Remember that, for the Buddha, suffering is what makes life unsatisfactory. So if we can understand what causes suffering we can also begin to end it.

Dukkha - the first Noble Truth

Dukkha is usually translated as suffering.
The Buddha teaches that how we define suffering has to do with sensory contact.
This means that we see things and desire them. This could be material things such as the latest smartphone.
It could be something that someone else has, and so we also want it.
Other senses can also come into play, such as taste.
- People may like the taste of some food or drink, and so they want more of it.

Satisfaction

The Buddha tells us that what we want will not bring satisfaction, because these things are temporary.
We eat tasty food but the enjoyment of eating is soon over.
A new smartphone is only new for a short time until the next one comes out.
- So again the satisfaction of owning it passes and gives way to the desire for the next model.

Samuyada – the second Noble Truth

The second Noble Truth looks at the cause of suffering. It is desire or attachment?
Desire is when we want something, but why can getting what we want hurt us?
Another word that can help us understand the teaching is ‘attachment’.
- We become attached to things, and it hurts to let them go.

Attachments

We become attached to people we love such as our family members. But the truth is that people die, and that causes us pain.
We also become attached to objects. When the object breaks or gets lost, attachment causes suffering.

The Four Noble Truths

Now that we know what causes suffering, does that help us know how to stop it?

Nirhoda – the third Noble Truth

If we can let go of our desires and attachments, then we can end suffering.
Understanding this and exercising self-control to achieve it, leads to enlightenment and nirvana.

Magga – the fourth Noble Truth

Magga teaches us that we can achieve that self-control by following the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path to enlightenment.
We will look at this path in more detail later.

Meditation

When people are busy they are not able to focus on the very challenging questions of life.
To reach enlightenment they need to spend time in a quiet place and allow their minds to ignore distractions.
The calm allows people to focus, and they can often stay in this focused state for a long time.
This way the mind can become still, and people can become less stressed.

Why Buddhists meditate

Buddhists believe it is important that the thoughts going on in the mind do not come and go randomly. It is possible to find answers to the kinds of questions the Buddha was asking when the mind is still.
What is the purpose of life, how do we avoid suffering, how do we live life in the best possible way?

1Year 7

1.1Origins of Abrahamic Faith

1.2Judaism

1.3Christianity

1.3.1The Nativity

1.3.2Christian Beliefs about the Baby Jesus

1.3.3Jesus' Ministry

1.3.4The Sermon on the Mount

1.3.5The Crucifixion

1.3.6The Last Supper

1.3.7The Resurrection

1.3.8Christian Beliefs about the Resurrection

1.3.9The Council of Nicaea

1.3.10The Nicene Creed

1.3.11Saint Augustine

1.3.12Protestantism

1.3.13The Reformation

1.3.14Christianity Today

1.3.15Evangelical Churches

1.3.16The Future of Christianity

1.4Buddhism

1.4.1Religion in India

1.4.2The Caste System

1.4.3Meditation

1.4.4Caste & Religion

1.4.5Puja

1.4.6Karma & the Cycle of Rebirth

1.4.7The Four Noble Truths

1.4.8The Three Marks of Existence

1.4.9The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path to Enlightenment

1.4.10How do Buddhists Live?

1.4.11The Four Sights

1.4.12The Buddha

1.4.13The Middle Way & Enlightenment

2Year 8

2.1Islam

2.1.1Pre-Islamic Arabia

2.1.2The Prophet Muhammad & The Qur'an

2.1.3The Hijrah & The Conquest of Mecca

2.1.4The Prophet Muhammad: The Final Sermon

2.1.5The Sunni/Shia Split

2.1.6Islamic Caliphates

2.1.7The Five Pillars of Islam

2.1.8Origins of Hajj

2.1.9Hajj Rituals

2.1.10Jihad

2.1.11Islam Today

2.2Hinduism

2.2.1The Prehistoric Roots of Hinduism

2.2.2Key Ideas in Hinduism

2.2.3The Caste System

2.2.4The Vedic Period

2.2.5The Upanishads

2.2.6Alexander the Great & The Mauryan Empire

2.2.7Revelation & The Sharing of Knowledge

2.2.8Understanding the Self

2.2.9Karma, Yoga & the Self

2.2.10The Divine Presence

2.2.11Hindu Statues and Icons

2.2.12British Colonialism & Gandhi

2.3Atheism

2.3.1Where Did Atheism Come From?

2.3.2The Impact of Scientific Developments

2.3.3Plato's Cave

2.3.4Challenging the Bible

2.3.5The Enlightenment

2.3.6Evolution

2.3.7Evolution & Religion

2.3.8Morality & God

2.3.9Morality Without God

2.3.10Frederick Nietzsche - How to Live Without Religion

2.3.11Militant Atheism

2.3.12Humanism

2.3.13The Future of Atheism

2.4Philosophy of Religion

2.4.1Who is God?

2.4.2Theists, Atheists & Agnostics

2.4.3Faith & Empiricism

2.4.4The Design Argument

2.4.5Is The Design Argument Convincing?

2.4.6The Cosmological Argument

2.4.7Criticisms of The Cosmological Argument

2.4.8The Problem of Evil

2.4.9Free Will Theodicy

2.4.10Soul-Making Theodicy

2.4.11Religious Experience

2.4.12Types of Religious Experience

2.4.13Criticisms of Religious Experience

3Year 9

3.1Life & Death

3.1.1What is the Right Thing To Do?

3.1.2Thomas Aquinas - Natural Law

3.1.3Building a Moral Code

3.1.4Criticisms of Natural Law

3.1.5Joseph Fletcher - Situation Ethics

3.1.6Understanding Situation Ethics

3.1.7Criticisms of Situation Ethics

3.1.8Sanctity of Life

3.1.9Quality of Life

3.1.10Abortion

3.1.11Moral Questions About Abortion

3.1.12Euthanasia

3.1.13Moral Questions About Euthanasia

3.1.14Capital Punishment

3.1.15Arguments Against Captial Punishment

3.1.16Animal Rights

3.1.17Alternative Views on Animal Rights

3.2Extremism

3.2.1What Does Extremism Mean?

3.2.2Extremism Explained

3.2.3Why do People Become Extremists?

3.2.4What are Conspiracy Theories?

3.2.5Why do People Believe Conspiracy Theories?

3.2.6What is Anti-Semitism?

3.2.7Anti-Semitic Stereotyping

3.2.8The Holocaust

3.2.9After the Holocaust

3.2.10Religious Fundamentalism

3.2.11The Problem of Fundamentalism

3.2.12Nationalism

3.2.13Nationalism & Extremism

3.2.14What is a Terrorist?

3.2.15Political & Religious Terrorism

3.2.16Free Speech

3.2.17Hate Speech

3.2.18How do we Fight Extremism?

3.3Equality

3.3.1Introduction to Equality

3.3.2Is the UK an Equal Society?

3.3.3Religion and Equality

3.3.4Interpreting the Scripture

3.3.5Racism and Scripture

3.3.6Scripture Against Racism

3.3.7The Fight for Racial Equality

3.3.8Gender Equality and Scripture

3.3.9Gender Equality; Women in Worship

3.3.10LGBTQ+ Matters

3.3.11The Fight for LGBTQ+ Equality

3.3.12Disability Matters

3.3.13The Fight for Disability Equality

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