The real teaching of the Buddha is missing in the modern Buddhist interpretation. By a careful reading of the words of the Buddha one is able to put together the true teaching which is quite different from the one that most people believe he taught which lies mainly in their own imagination.
In light of this, even the first noble truth is not fully understood. To the consternation and surprise of most Buddhists they are shocked to hear that the truth of the Buddhist teaching is that the first noble truth of suffering is about what is not the atman this being the five aggregates. These aggregates are suffering (SN 56:13) and with them what is not the self (an-atman).
The second noble truth is about the cause of suffering which is clinging to these suffering aggregates or the same clinging to what is not the atman. Putting a stop to clinging to these aggregates is the third noble truth.
Finally the fourth noble truth is yoking with the atman thus fully abandoning desire for what is not the self (SN 22:68). Here one is free from clinging. Yes, illusions still remain but there is no clinging to them because one has gone well beyond clinging where suffering is not possible.
Our very temporal thoughts are the sentient beings that we must save by being fully enlightened like Siddhartha when he became a Buddha.
Unlike with Christianity, there will be no savior who will save us from ourselves. We must do that on our own because the truth is always present but we refuse to give up clinging to what causes us our suffering.
Comments