For years and years I have had various spiritual beliefs that have been akin to components on a circuit board. Though the connections between them have been clouded by a dense fog and only drops of electricity have been traveling between all these different components. I have studied and tried other practices to make these components connect fully and I have not been successful. It was not until having the dream about Tyr and the Bodhi Tree which led me to start studying Buddhism. In doing so, it lead to one massive EUREKA! moment and it felt like connections were created and the electricity has been coursing at full power between all the different components. As sometime has passed I realized with the help from a brother that the connections have always there because everything (the material and spiritual universe) is connected not just my beliefs but I could not see them - the fog obscuring my senses to the natural path of energy has been lifted.
It addition to this phenomenon, I experienced various conversations and interactions with my brothers coming back to me in lucid memories at random intervals and I have realized that they have been dropping hints for years and I just did not pick up on them. There has even been in depth conversations about the content of the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and other related texts. In addition to studies and practices from the Eddas, the Havamal, etc., and discussions regarding the Gods, the spiritual life, Orlog, Wyrd, and even aspects of philosophy like Stoicism.
The connection to all of these components in addition to connecting everything in the material and spiritual universe are The Four Noble Truths. These truths are thus;
1. We undergo undesirable experiences (the Truth of Suffering - Dukkha):
This is commonly referenced to the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, death, association with the unpleasant, dissociation from the pleasant, not receiving what one desires, and grasping at the self. I think undesirable experiences is a better umbrella term then suffering because suffering denotes pain and all of these things can be painful or just unpleasant. We have these types of experiences on a daily basis, whether it be physiological, emotional, spiritual, mental, or somewhere in between. Westly from The Princess Bride had it right all along, "Life is pain, highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something."
This is commonly referenced to the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, death, association with the unpleasant, dissociation from the pleasant, not receiving what one desires, and grasping at the self. I think undesirable experiences is a better umbrella term then suffering because suffering denotes pain and all of these things can be painful or just unpleasant. We have these types of experiences on a daily basis, whether it be physiological, emotional, spiritual, mental, or somewhere in between. Westly from The Princess Bride had it right all along, "Life is pain, highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something."
2. These experiences have causes (The Truth of the Origin of Suffering - Samudaya):
All of these undesirable experiences have causes and these causes are self inflicted (What? We actually have to take responsibility for our actions?). These causes are linked to disturbing attitudes such as ignorance, anger, attachment, greed, craving for existence, craving for non existence, and craving for sense pleasure. All these origins can come from the Karmic imprints of the now, our past lives, and our connection to the web of the universe.
All of these undesirable experiences have causes and these causes are self inflicted (What? We actually have to take responsibility for our actions?). These causes are linked to disturbing attitudes such as ignorance, anger, attachment, greed, craving for existence, craving for non existence, and craving for sense pleasure. All these origins can come from the Karmic imprints of the now, our past lives, and our connection to the web of the universe.
3. These causes can be abandoned (The Truth of Cessation - Nirodha):
All of these undesirable experiences can be given up so we avoid the unpleasant experiences. If we focus on ethical conduct, concentration, and wisdom we can better focus ourselves and redirect ourselves away from these disturbing attitudes. In doing so, we retrain ourselves to lead better and happier lives which creates a positive ripple effect outward of happiness that affects others because everything is connected.
4. The Path to Peace (The Noble Eight-fold Path - Magga):
The eight fold path is conduct on these points; right action, right speech, right livelihood, right mindfulness, right concentration, right effort, right view, and right thought. These are all reflected on the Dharma Wheel and a wheel being circular there is no correct order but all of these aspects connect to each other in multiple ways.
The most important thing to help one come to terms with The Four Noble Truths is radical acceptance. This concept is discussed and used therapeutically, in other spiritual circles, and in just about every 12 Step program you can think of. In the fourth edition of Alcoholics Anonymous (the big blue book) a person comes to this realization in one of the personal stories;
All of these undesirable experiences can be given up so we avoid the unpleasant experiences. If we focus on ethical conduct, concentration, and wisdom we can better focus ourselves and redirect ourselves away from these disturbing attitudes. In doing so, we retrain ourselves to lead better and happier lives which creates a positive ripple effect outward of happiness that affects others because everything is connected.
4. The Path to Peace (The Noble Eight-fold Path - Magga):
The eight fold path is conduct on these points; right action, right speech, right livelihood, right mindfulness, right concentration, right effort, right view, and right thought. These are all reflected on the Dharma Wheel and a wheel being circular there is no correct order but all of these aspects connect to each other in multiple ways.
The most important thing to help one come to terms with The Four Noble Truths is radical acceptance. This concept is discussed and used therapeutically, in other spiritual circles, and in just about every 12 Step program you can think of. In the fourth edition of Alcoholics Anonymous (the big blue book) a person comes to this realization in one of the personal stories;
"And acceptance is the answer to all of my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation - some fact of my life - unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is suppose to be at this moment...unless I accept life on life's terms, I cannot be happy . I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to change in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes."I have swallowed the red pill and it is time to find out how deep the rabbit hole goes.
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