Part 6 (1/2)
A. The knowledge of the ”Four n.o.ble Truths,” as the Buddha called them.
121. Q. _Name these Four n.o.ble Truths?_
A. 1. The miseries of evolutionary existence resulting in births and deaths, life after life.
2. The cause productive of misery, which is the selfish desire, ever renewed, of satisfying one's self, without being able ever to secure that end.
3. The destruction of that desire, or the estranging of one's self from it.
4. The means of obtaining this destruction of desire.
122. Q. _Tell me some things that cause sorrow?_
A. Birth, decay, illness, death, separation from objects we love, a.s.sociation with those who are repugnant, craving for what cannot be obtained.
123. Q. _Do these differ with each individual?_
A. Yes: but all men suffer from them in degree.
124. Q. _How can we escape the sufferings which result from unsatisfied desires and ignorant cravings?_
A. By complete conquest over, and destruction of, this eager thirst for life and its pleasures, which causes sorrow.
125. Q. _How may we gain such a conquest?_
A. By following the n.o.ble Eight-fold Path which the Buddha discovered and pointed out.
126. Q. _What do you mean by that word: what is this n.o.ble Eight-fold Path?_ (For the Pali name see Q. 79.)
A. The eight parts of this path are called _angas_. They are: 1.
Right Belief (as to the law of Causation, or Karma); 2. Right Thought; 3. Right Speech; 4. Right Action; 5. Right Means of Livelihood; 6.
Right Exertion; 7. Right Remembrance and Self-discipline; 8. Right Concentration of Thought. The man who keeps these _angas_ in mind and follows them will be free from sorrow and ultimately reach salvation.
127. Q. _Can you give a better word for salvation?_
A. Yes, emanc.i.p.ation.
128. Q. _Emanc.i.p.ation, then, from what?_
A. Emanc.i.p.ation from the miseries of earthly existence and of rebirths, all of which are due to ignorance and impure l.u.s.ts and cravings.
129. Q. _And when this salvation or emanc.i.p.ation is attained, what do we reach?_
A. NIRVANA.
130. Q. _What is Nirvana?_
A. A condition of total cessation of changes, of perfect rest, of the absence of desire and illusion and sorrow, of the total obliteration of everything that goes to make up the physical man. Before reaching Nirvana man is constantly being reborn; when he reaches Nirvana he is born no more.