hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~
namasté
I watched a video by Robert A.F. Thurman¹ . He spoke of buddhism. I must say I gained a new insight into this approach, this dharma.
He spoke of many things as it was several hours in length, yet the one idea that was most rewarding was catvāri āryasatyāni, we know as the 4 noble truths of buddhism.
What was most insightful was the time Mr. Thurman gave to framing the noble truths properly. A key word in catvāri āryasatyāni is ārya. This word means respectable, honorable, a master, being wise. And we know of this word satyā means truth, reality, it also means certainly, really.
Hence these noble truths are above the notion of being propositional statements or assertions ( some say creeds). They are how one established in Reality ( such as the Buddha) sees what is going on in the world of men.
As one that has been lifted up past the field of the 3 guna-s, one sees others that are tangled up in the world. Hence the 4 noble truths as perceived by the enlightened are:
Hence just by the proper explanation of one word ārya a whole new view is offered to the reader, the aspirant on the path.
- Suffering does exist - what is implied is suffering exists for the ignorant
- This suffering has an origin and arises from attachment to desires
- Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases
- Freedom from suffering is possible by the proper path
praṇām
references:
Robert A.F. Thurman is the Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religion at Columbia University, President of the Tibet House U.S., a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Tibetan civilization, and President of the American Institute of Buddhist Studies, a non-profit affiliated with the Center for Buddhist Studies at Columbia University and dedicated
to the publication of translations of important texts from the Tibetan Tanjur.
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