‘”The four Nobel truths are the only teaching
needed within Buddhism”. Evaluate this view.
The four noble truths are teachings that the Buddha had spoken of
when he preached his first sermon to his 5 followers in Benares,
which took place after his enlightenment. The first of the four noble
truths is Dukkha meaning suffering or general dissatisfaction which
explains how we as humans are in a state of suffering. The second
noble truth is Samudaya which translates to the origin of suffering,
this noble truth explains the three fires of what makes humans suffer,
such as the rooster, pig ad snake. In addition to this the third noble
truth is Nirodha. This noble truth helps Buddhists escape suffering as
the Buddha taught how to extinguish desire to liberate oneself from
attachment which is ultimately suffering. Finally, the forth truth is
Magga. Magga is the Buddhas preconception of the end of suffering,
which would be to follow the eightfold path. These four Nobel truths
are a main component of Buddhism that many believe to be extremely
important. However not everyone may agree as the Buddha did also
preach many other teachings such as the Eightfold path.
Firstly some Buddhists may believe that the four noble truths are the
most significant teaching within Buddhism as they cover all areas of
how to become enlightened as well as explaining why we as humans
suffer ultimately helping them to become enlightened and reach
Nirvana, “birth is suffering, decay sickness and death are suffering”
therefore it being the only teachings they need to become fully
enlightened, meaning they do not need the help of other teachings to
do so. In relation to this the second Nobel truth Samudaya explains
the three main components of suffering which are greed and desire,
ignorance and delusion and hatred and destructive urges. These are
represented by the rooster, pig and snake. This shows that all features
of suffering are in one place making it easier to fully comprehend for
some therefore meaning it is the only teaching in Buddhism that some
Buddhists need to become enlightened.
Following on as mentioned previously the four Nobel truths were first
preached by the Buddha himself to his first five followers, after his
enlightenment. By the Buddha teaching this first after becoming
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