Root of the Bodhi Tree: The Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path

1. Root of the Bodhi Tree: The Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path Despite the unbelievable variety of scriptures, practices, languages, cultures and approaches, we find at the center of all the customs of Buddhism the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. As the Dalai Lama said, “There is no Buddhism without the Four Noble Truths. If you want to know Buddhism, you must know the Four Noble Truths.” The Four Noble Truthsare the facts of life from a Buddhist perspective.

2. 1. Life is Dukkha (Suffering). Suffering happens all through life because people always want more or little bit better than what they already have. 2. All suffering is caused by craving/desire and attachment. Because we don’t have what we want we think and feel trouble. 3. Suffering can be reduced. All delicate desires must be extinguished by the human being who wishes freedom from suffering and it can be extinguished by walking the Path. If we admit what we have and stop wanting more we will become glad. 4. Suffering can be reduced by following the Eightfold Path. The Noble Eightfold Path way is the method to end suffering.

3. The Eightfold Path is to be experienced though the three principles training (sila); meditation training and mindfulness training, (Samadhi) and wisdom and love training (prajna). These three trainings are the tripod-like bases that support all the Buddhist practices on the path of enlightened living. Principles training or sila (literally: cooling) includes self-discipline, morality, virtue, selflessness, service, and so on. Mindfulness training includes the calculated development of self-observation and wakefulness, training the attention and concentration, presence of mind and meditation training. The third training, (prajna), means insight, discrimination, and judgment. I would like to say insight and love, for completeness’ sake, since reality and love, or insight and kindness, are inseparable. So sila, samadhi and prajna are the three fundamental ways we guide and expand ourselves on the holy path. The Three Trainings are actually put into practice through the Eightfold Path.

4. The eightfold path referred to as steps on a path, is not meant as an in order learning process, but as eight parts of life, all of which are to be integrated in everyday life. Thus the atmosphere is created to move faster to the Buddhist pathway. The eightfold path is at the heart of the middle way, which turns from extremes and supports us to seek the simple approach. Wisdom Training is broken out into the first and second practices of the Eightfold Path:

5. Which Noble Eightfold Path way has to be developed in order to end all suffering? 1. Right view and understanding learning the life of reality and the fact about life. 2. Right ambition making the promise to living in such a way that our distress can end. 3. Right words speaking the reality in a helpful and sympathetically way. 4. Right action and behavior living a life reliable with our morals. 5. Right livelihood receiving a living in a system that does not upset others. 6. Right try just Do it. No cause. 7. Right alertness recognizing the importance of the moment; living everywhere we are. 8. Right awareness expanding our realization through meditation. Article Source - https://lamasuryadasmarried.wordpress.com/2015/10/27/root-of-the-bodhi-tree-the-four-noble-truths-and-the-noble-eightfold-path/