..续本文上一页en the human situation is hopeless. However, not only is the Truth of Dukkha recognized, the Buddha proceeded to analyze its cause and the way to cure it. How can Buddhism be considered to be pessimistic if the cure to the problem is known
In fact, it is a teaching which is filled with hope. In addition, even though Dukkha is a noble truth, it does not mean that there is no happiness, enjoyment and pleasure in life. There is, and the Buddha has taught various methods with which we can gain more happiness in our daily life. However, in the final analysis, the fact remains that the pleasure or happiness which we experience in life is impermanent. We may enjoy a happy situation, or the good company of someone we love, or we enjoy youth and health. Sooner or later, when these states change we experience suffering. Therefore, while there is every reason to feel glad when one experiences happiness, one should not cling to these happy states or be side-tracked and forget about working one”s way to complete Liberation. If we wish to cure ourselves from suffering, we must first identify its cause.
According to the Buddha, craving or desire (tanha or raga) is the cause of suffering. This is the Second Noble Truth. People crave for pleasant experiences, crave for material things, crave for eternal life, and when disappointed, crave for eternal death. They are not only attached to sensual pleasures, wealth and power, but also to ideas, views, opinions, concepts, beliefs. And craving is linked to ignorance, that is, not seeing things as they really are, or failing to understand the reality of experience and life. Under the delusion of Self and not realizing Anatta (non-Self), a person clings to things which are impermanent, changeable, perishable. The failure to satisfy one”s desires through these things causes disappointments and suffering. The Danger of Selfish Desire Craving is a fire which burns in all beings: every activity is motivated by desire. They range from the simple physical desire of animals to the complex and often artificially stimulated desires of the civilized man. To satisfy desire, animals prey upon one another, and human beings fight, kill, cheat, lie and perform various forms of unwholesome deeds. Craving is a powerful mental force present in all forms of life, and is the chief cause of the ills in life. It is this craving that leads to repeated births in the cycle of existence.
Once we have realized the cause of suffering, we are in the position to put an end to suffering. So, how do we put an end to suffering
Eliminate it at its root by the removal of craving in the mind. This is the Third Noble Truth. The state where craving ceases is known as Nibbana. The word Nibbana is composed of ”ni” and ”vana”, meaning the departure from or end of craving. This is a state which is free from suffering and rounds of rebirth. This is a state which is not subjected to the laws of birth, decay and death. This state is so sublime that no human language can express it. Nibbana is Unborn, Unoriginated, Uncreated, Unformed. If there were not this Unborn, this Unoriginated, this Uncreated, this Unformed, then escape from the conditioned world is not possible. Nibbana is beyond logic and reasoning. We may engage in highly speculative discussions regarding Nibbana or ultimate reality, but this is not the way to really understand it.
To understand and realize the truth of Nibbana, it is necessary for us to walk the Eightfold Path, and to train and purify ourselves with diligence and patience. Through spiritual development and maturity, we will be able to realize the Third Noble Truth. The Noble Eightfold Path is the Fourth Noble Truth which leads to Nibbana. It is a way of life consisting of eight factors. By walking on this Path, it will be possible for us to see an end to suffering. Because Buddhism is a logical and consistent teaching embracing every aspect of life, this noble Path also serves as the finest possible code for leading a happy life. Its practice brings benefits to oneself and other, and it is not a Path to be practised by those who call themselves Buddhists alone, but by each and every understanding person, irrespective of his religious beliefs.
有些人认为生命就是「苦」是一种悲观的看法。其实，这一点也不悲观，而是一条正确理解人生的道路。当一个人生病时，不承认自己有病，不愿找医生诊治。这是不正确的观点，是一种愚蠢的行为。因此，这种错误观或悲观，不能令人了解生命的真谛，无法解决生命中的问题。四圣谛清楚的解释和分析「苦」，并指示了对治「苦」 的方法。如果佛陀只限于分析「苦」的真谛，而不指示对治「苦」的方法，那么，人类将是无助和没有希望了。佛陀不止为我们分析了「苦」，也为我们提供了对治「苦」的方案。当佛教徒都知道如何对治「苦」时，它们又怎么会悲观呢？佛陀的教诲，令人类充满了希望。
另一方面，生命是「苦」，并不表示人类因此就没有快乐、欢愉、荣幸等情绪。佛陀的教诲，也能令我们在日常生活中充满法喜。当我们深入了解时，一切乐受都是不永恒的。当我们在享有快乐、友好、挚爱、青春、健康时，要了解到这一切即将转化为「苦」。因此，当一个人在快乐时，不要忘记提醒自己，鞭策自己，勤奋的寻求解脱之道。
我们要对治「苦」，就必须先了解「苦因」。根据佛陀所说，欲(tanha)和贪(Ràga) 就是「苦因」(集)这是四圣谛中的第二圣谛──集圣谛。人类追寻欲乐、追寻物质、追寻永生、追寻不死，但是，这一切都会让他们失望。人类所追求不止于物质方面肉欲的快感、财富和权力，也追求于精神方面的，如：想法、看法、意见、概念和信仰等等。贪欲带动愚痴，使人蒙蔽，看不清真相。认清楚「我」，了解「无我」(Anattà)的道理，思考于不永恒、变动和死亡，那么，「苦」就开始远离你了。
自私的危险：
欲望是火焰，能烧毁一切生命，人类的任何一种活动，都是由欲望生起的。从人类到各种低等生物，在本性都充满了欲望。从动物侵袭对方，到人类的战争、杀生、欺骗、撒谎等不良的行径，可以证实这一点。欲望占据了一切生命，是生命中最大的弊病。是欲望导致众生轮回不息。
当我们明了「苦」的真谛后，就应该消灭「苦」。我们应该如何灭苦呢？灭苦的根源就在于舍弃欲望。这是第三圣谛──灭圣谛。没有欲望的清净境界就是──涅槃(Nibbàna)。涅槃的巴利文 Nibbàna 是由字根 n 和àna 组成，原意就是舍弃欲望。这是一个没有苦受和轮回的境界，也没有生、老、病、死。这个境界并非人类的语言可以解释得清楚。涅槃是一个无生、无因缘、无造作、无组织的境界。在我们居住的世界里，要造就一个无生、无因缘、无造作、无组织的环境是不可能的。
涅槃是一种理想，我们必须以高度的思维方式来趋向究竟涅槃，但是，这并不是正确了解涅槃的方法。要正确的了解涅槃，必须先认识「八圣道」，同时要勤奋、有耐心和净化自己。通过心灵的发展和道德的培养，我们正确的认识了第三圣谛──灭圣谛。
「八圣道」是第四圣谛，是引导我们迈向涅槃的圣谛。通过八种正确的生活方式，我们走向正道──苦灭之道。佛教徒学习和了解生命中任何细节，「八圣道」也是为我们带来幸福生活的唯一途径，不但为自己带来幸福，也为他人带来幸福。但不是所有自称佛教徒的人，就能理解这个真理，他必须深入的去了解和实践这个真理，才能过着神圣的宗教生活。
《四圣谛 Four Noble Truths》全文阅读结束。