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The Roots of Suffering

Thich Nhat Hanh · July 13, 2001 · Plum Village, France
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The Four Noble Truths are called Tứ Diệu Đế or Tứ Thánh Đế. In these teachings, suffering is not merely meaningless pain, but is itself the seed that leads to insight and liberation, just as the lotus grows out of the mud. The other three truths—origin, cessation, and path—are interdependent with suffering. Only when we understand the cause of suffering (origin), see the possibility of ending suffering (cessation), and practice the path of transformation (path), can we truly comprehend the Noble Truth of Suffering.

    1. Noble Truth of Suffering: suffering is an opportunity for the arising of insight and liberation
    1. Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering: the cause and formation of suffering
    1. Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering: the absence of suffering and its causes, that is, happiness
    1. Noble Truth of the Path: the path leading to the cessation of the causes of suffering

The teachings also point out four kinds of nutriments that create suffering. Understanding them helps us to recognize and transform:

  • Edible food: food taken through the mouth, which can either nourish or destroy body and mind
  • Sense impressions: what we receive through the six sense organs, which can easily carry toxins of violence, craving, and hatred
  • Volition: our ideas and will, the source of craving and anger
  • Consciousness: the store consciousness, where the three poisons—greed, hatred, and delusion—are always moving and generating suffering
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1h 41m

Understanding the Mind is the Beginning of Transformation

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20m

External and Internal Causes