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The First
Noble Truth with its three aspects is:
1. There is suffering, dukkha.
2. Dukkha should be understood.
3. Dukkha has been [therefore 'can be'] understood.
What is the Noble Truth of Suffering?
(a) Birth is suffering, (b) ageing is suffering, and (c) death is
suffering.
(d) Dissociation from the loved is suffering; (e) not to get what
one wants is suffering:
(a) to (e) are
the five categories of suffering affected [caused] by clinging [or
attachment to views].
This Noble Truth
must be penetrated by fully understanding suffering.
This Noble Truth has been [can be] penetrated by fully understanding
suffering:
Such was the vision, insight, wisdom, knowing, and light that arose
in me about things not heard before. (Samyutta Nikaya LVI, 11)
This is a very
skilful teaching because it is expressed in a simple formula which
is easy to remember, and it applies to everything that you can possibly
experience or do or think concerning the past, the present or the
future.
The Pali
word, dukkha, means 'incapable of satisfying' or 'not able to beat
or withstand anything'; always changing, incapable of truly fulfilling
us or making us happy.
The sensual world is like that. Contrary to our impulse instinct
or first assumptions it would, in fact, be terrible if we did find
satisfaction in the sensory world - because then we wouldn't search
beyond it; we'd just be bound to it.
However, as we awaken to this dukkha, we begin to find the way out
and are no longer constantly trapped in sensory consciousness.
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