Talk:Four Noble Truths

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Contents 1 Is Buddhism Pessimistic? 2 Simplicity 3 Strange... 4 a summary ? 5 Misinformation 6 Clarity

[edit] Is Buddhism Pessimistic?

Because of its focus on suffering Buddhism is often called pessimistic

I thought people say its pessimistic because of the idea of nirvana = nothingness. that the happy cure is to cease to exist.

Plasticlax

I find the idea of suffering never reaching cessation much more pessimistic than the idea of reaching the end of suffering (even if conciousness has to cease with it). The Buddha said that he does not only talk of happiness with reference to happy feeling - but any kind of happiness whatsoever. Elsewhere he concisely states: Not to suffer is happiness Bhikkhusilaveda 02:04, 24 June 2006

[edit] Simplicity

Though I am sure that this was a great article, I had some trouble understanding some of it. Maybe if someone who understands it could make a Simple English version?

I have tried to make the intro more accessable, but I have not attempted to put the FNTs into more simple english because I don't wan't to just type out my opinion - rather I prefer to qoute scripture. Even quoting an authoritative scholar's opinion is troublesome because I would then have to quote the counter-interpretation. I hope the article is a bit better, but I aggree that it needs more clarifying.... hard to do without putting some opinion in there :o\ Bhikkhusilaveda 08:03, 17 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Strange...

In one of the paragraphs, someone has placed BUDDHA BUDDHA BUDDHA...etc. I have tried to remove it, yet I cannot find the text (or indeed some of the paragraphs...) in the editor...so I appeal to someone else to remove it.

EDIT: And now the paragraphs are gone! This may explain why I couldn't find them, but is it really correct to remove them entirely?

cicero225 05:04, 18 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] a summary ?

I like the article. A very abbreviated version of the noble truths is :

 All life is suffering. 
 Suffering is caused by desire. 
 To eliminate suffering, eliminate desire. 
 To eliminate desire follow the Eightfold Path.

I think this has a simplicity that is memorable and appealing, and is worth including in the article

I agree something along these lines needs to be included. I came to this page looking for what the Four Noble Truths are, but all I found was a dogmatic and exclusive interpretation. --FearedInLasVegas 11:48, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Misinformation

The Buddha was enlightened near the Neranjana River, not the Ganges. Bhikkhusilaveda 03:29, 28 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Clarity

It is the remainder less fading away and cessation of that same craving Is this the best wording? What exactly does "remainder less fading away" mean? Xyut 09:07, 30 March 2007 (UTC)