Four Noble Truths facts for kids
The Four Noble Truths are a Buddhist teaching. They show Buddhists why they should follow the Middle Way.
Contents
The four truths
The first noble truth
The first noble truth is called Dukkha, which means suffering. It says that life is full of suffering. To say it a different way, in life, there is sickness, poverty (being poor), old age, and death. People can not keep what they want. People can not avoid what they do not want. If that is all a person learns, they suffer.
The second noble truth
The second noble truth is Samudaya, which says that there is a reason for the suffering in the world. It says that the reason there is suffering is that people want things. It also says that the reason there is suffering is that people change what they think is real. They do this because they are ignorant. People do wrong actions because they want things and because they do not see what is real. Those evil actions lead to suffering.
The third noble truth
The third noble truth is Nirodha. It says that people can be free from suffering when they no longer want things.
The fourth noble truth
The fourth noble truth is called Marga. It says that for a person to stop wanting things, they must follow a set of rules. The rules are called the Noble Eightfold Path.
The Eightfold Path
- See main article: Noble Eightfold Path
The eightfold path says that truth is found in the Middle Way. A person can get to the Middle Way by following the eightfold path. The eight rules are these:
- Right Viewpoint. A person should see things in a bad way at first. This way, they are never disappointed.
- Right Values. A person should try to make their ethics and morals better in small ways.
- Right Speech. A person should try to be truthful and kind when they talk.
- Right Actions. A person should try to do good things. If they can not do a good thing, then they should try to not do a bad thing.
- Right Livelihood. A person should not work at something that can hurt themselves or other people.
- Right Effort. A person should try to be better.
- Right Mindfulness. A person can not be confused. They must not use drugs or alcohol.
- Right Meditation. A person must try to reach enlightenment through meditation.
Images for kids
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Tibetan Bhavacakra or "Wheel of Life"
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A relief depicting the first discourse of the Buddha, from the 2nd century (Kushan). The Walters Art Museum. The Buddha's hand can be seen at right.
See also
In Spanish: Cuatro nobles verdades para niños
