Stages of the Path: Four Noble Truths (2009)
Short talks on the four truths for aryas based on the Guru Puja text by the first Panchen Lama Lobsang Chokyi Gyaltsen.
The Buddha’s first teaching
Venerable Thubten Chodron How the four noble truths are the framework in which everything happens.
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The first noble truth and dukkha
The three types of dukkha, and how having an awareness of all three is important to developing actual renunciation.
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Getting what we don’t want
Looking at the first two of the eight sufferings of human beings and using them to energize our practice.
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Birth, aging, and sickness
Looking at birth, aging, and sickness, in a more realistic way, contemplating them in order to fuel our practice.
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The eight disadvantages of cyclic existence
The sufferings of separation from what we like and being under the control of afflictions and karma.
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The dukkha of uncertainty
The types of dukkha (unsatisfactoriness) that are pervasive in all the realms of samsara.
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The six sufferings of sentient beings
The uncertainty and unsatisfactoriness of cyclic existence.
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Attachment to samadhi
The importance of seeing all realms of cyclic existence, even the upper realms, as unsatisfactory.
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Six root afflictions: Ignorance
An explanation of two primary kinds of ignorance and how both cause us problems.
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Six root afflictions: Ignorance and wrong views
Our thoughts and actions influence ourselves and others.
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Six root afflictions: Doubt
The difference between curiosity and doubt and how both influence our practice.
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