Four Noble Truths (as taught by Thich Nhat Hanh)

Enryu shared that he makes the point of inter-being. So often we see the purpose of our practice is to change or to suffer less, have  a happier life. All these may happen as we practice. But this expectation when put aside and instead, seeing our inter connected ness, our “inter-being” or “inter-are”, the relationship between our suffering experience or ill-being and well-being is shared. No ill-being, no well-being.  No up no down. They need each other. He talks about the all inclusive nature of our experience. 

A flower is made up of the sun, water, earth and the care…there is no flower without these foundational elements. 

Four Noble Truths can be seen very simply as 4 observations that the Buddha had:

1. Ill-being – Dukha,, had to translate – a wheel, an axle, a lack of alignment in it and the bumpy ride. – suffering, friction
2. This imbalance or friction is caused by desire or our orientation towards experience, where the senses are “thirsty” and heading into “craving”.
3. There is a way to end suffering. THERE IS WELL BEING.
4. The 8 fold path that includes right action that minimizes harm to self and others. 

Thich Nhat Hanh talks about the 8 fold path in terms of the path to well being. 

A fresh view of seeing. Life is not just suffering. 

THERE IS WELL BEING.

Remembering our inter-being is a path to well being.

So we can reflect on:

• What s the path to ill-being and
• What is the path to well-being?

Various traditions point towards the universal teaching, the importance of revealing our root cause of suffering with may be embedded in one or two thought currents or deep core programs that are ruling our reactions in daily life. How you orient to the world, to every situation that arises. Teachings and practices help us reveal these patterns usually rendering us “limited” and reveal responses and possibilities that are expansive, guiding us towards well-being, our true nature.