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"Transforming Suffering: Happiness in the Sacred Truth"
Many Buddhists often waste their lives on speculations and metaphysical discussions about the origin of the universe, the big bang, and so on, while the Buddha focused only on suffering and the path of transformation of suffering. He maintained a thundering silence before all metaphysical questions that go beyond sensory experience and wisdom, emphasizing the practical and concrete nature of the teachings of enlightenment.
The first Dharma talk, Turning the Dharma Wheel, presents the Four Noble Truths:
- suffering – the pains and sorrows we experience every day
- the cause – the origin of suffering
- cessation – the absence of suffering
- the path – the way leading to the cessation of suffering
Through the example of a doctor treating tuberculosis, we clearly see the process of recognizing the symptoms (suffering), finding the cause (origin), ending the cause (cessation), and practicing the right method (the path). The Buddha taught the combination of self-power and other-power, faith in oneself going hand in hand with the support of the Bodhisattvas, in order to move towards liberation.
In the practice, there is also the teaching of the Four Kinds of Nutriments that nourish suffering, among which edible food (food taken through the mouth) plays an important role. Mindfulness while eating and drinking helps us preserve our compassion, avoid harming our body and mind and other living beings, and at the same time, nourish true peace and happiness.