Lama Zopa Rinpoche - Introduction to the Four Noble Truths

INTRODUCTION:
WORKING WITH THE MIND

In essence the four noble truths say that we all naturally desire happiness and do not wish to suffer.... If we are to pursue our aspiration to gain freedom from suffering, we need to clearly understand the causes and conditions that give rise to suffering and strive to eliminate them. Additionally we must clearly understand the causes and conditions that give rise to happiness as well and actively practice them. Having established the framework of liberation in the four noble truths, the Buddha detailed the... steps along the path to enlightenment... how the principles of the four noble truths are to be applied in ones day-to-day spiritual life.

HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA,
Essence of the Heart Sutra

H APPINESS AND SUFFERING are part of our life experience, but they do not come from the external world. They come from within, from our own minds. Suffering springs from afflictions in our minds.

Until we understand the causes of suffering, no matter our intellect, education, or wealth, no matter the ordinary success we may have achieved, in the heart there is something missing, there is no real peace. The heart is hollow.

To transform our minds into one of happiness, we start by pacifying the mind, separating the mind from the causes of suffering. When this happens liberation! And if we are then able to cease even the very subtle mental imprints of negative action, speech, and thought enlightenment!

The process of inner transformation begins with understanding the nature of mind.

THE VALUE OF AN OPEN MIND

How wonderful it is to open our minds! With an open mind were open to exploration, which is the opposite of being limited by a closed and rigid mind as hard as iron, stuck to old concepts. An open mind enables us to look for fresh meaning and a better life. It allows us to investigate, check, and analyze.

We need to freely investigate whatever is being asserted. We need to apply analysis, logic, and reasoning to whatever is being taught before accepting it, whether the teaching is Eastern philosophy, Western philosophy, a teaching by Guru Shakyamuni Buddha, or a subject explained by scientists.

Guru Shakyamuni Buddha said, Examine my teachings well, the way a goldsmith examines gold, by cutting it, rubbing it, and melting it to see whether it is false gold, mixed, or pure.

In the same way, we should examine the Buddhas teachings or Dharma, using reasoning, analysis, and logic, but not blind faith. Only after we have done that should we consider accepting his teachings.

Therefore when we first read about the Dharma, we should not accept it without thinking about it. Questioning Dharma is what we are expected to do at this starting point. Emotionally clutching to words or the idea of Buddha in heaven brings little benefit. This is because when life gets tough and problems arise, we will have no inner understanding of the Dharma with which to support ourselves.

Thank you to everybody who is seeking happiness differently from how you have sought it before. This time you are freeing yourselves to open the door to liberation, the door of the great release, through understanding the inner, spiritual method to gain happiness. This is a key point because happiness is not found outside but within. Happiness lies within the mind. Whether we are talking about temporal or ultimate happiness there is no other way to find it except through developing the mind.