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The Way of Giving a Dharma Talk and the Way of Speaking in Daily Life
In the Land of Ultimate Bliss, even the birds, the wind, and the trees are Dharma teachings, but every teaching is aimed at helping sentient beings suffer less. The teachings of the World-Honored One throughout forty-five years revolve only around suffering and the path to the cessation of suffering, that is, the Four Noble Truths. A true Dharma talk must:
- Recognize and name suffering (The Truth of Suffering)
- Seek the cause of suffering (The Truth of the Origin of Suffering)
- Affirm the cessation of suffering (The Truth of the Cessation of Suffering)
- Present the path leading to the cessation of suffering (The Truth of the Path)
It is like a physician: first, one must diagnose the illness (The Truth of Suffering), find the germs or the habit of lacking mindfulness (The Truth of the Origin), then apply medicine and recommend appropriate living (The Truth of the Path) in order to attain well-being (The Truth of the Cessation).
The path to the cessation of suffering is the noble eightfold path, in which the first step is right view – correct perception of impermanence, non-self, interbeing, and nirvana. Next is right thinking, that is, thinking that is not mistaken, based on right view, and right speech, words that come from right thinking, avoiding wrong speech that causes harm. When we practice with solidity in right view, right thinking, and right speech, insight will arise, guiding us to liberation from suffering.