The Four Noble Truths parts 3 & 4 of 4

My thoughts and prayers have been with the Dalai Lama, the monks of Tibet and all of the people involved fighting for JUSTICE on behalf of the people of Tibet against The Communist RULED China! Darkness can NOT exist where there is LIGHT! God WILL give you JUSTICE! If China knows what's good for them they better re-think their actions. God SHALL restore Tibet to its RIGHTFUL owners, in Jesus Mighty name AMEN! With that being said, I would like to introduce my readers to the Buddhist teaching called 'The Four Noble Truths'. I have taken the following description of 'The Four Noble Truths' from the Buddhapia website.

The Buddha first preached the Four Noble Truths immediately after his enlightenment. These truths are accepted by all schools of Buddhism and are considered the essence of Buddhist doctrine. Understanding the Four Noble Truths is essential to understanding Buddhist doctrine and practice.

3. Cessation of Suffering (Nirvana) - The Third Noble Truth:
Nirvana literally means “extinction” or “quenching.” In Buddhism it refers to the complete cessation of suffering. Nirvana is the extinction of the fires of attachment, hatred and delusion which burn in the minds of sentient beings. It is freedom from birth, ageing and death and the cycle of reincarnation. Nirvana is a state in which suffering has been extinguished and complete freedom is attained. (this quote is does not directly address nirvana and may confuse reader. Will try to find a quote which fits in more directly. Perhaps can search on the computers at Buddhapia sometime soon.)

Seon Master Daehaeng said, “The thought of “I” results in anxiety and fear. If it ceases to exist, there will be no fear. Nor can death exist. From the viewpoint of the discriminating mind, birth and death appear to exist. But the truth is that neither birth nor death (or cessation) exists in reality. But they appear to exist in our eyes, because they manifest themselves from moment to moment. Everything is not fixed and always changing, thereby manifesting itself in different shapes and forms from moment to moment.

”Nirvana is difficult to fathom because it is beyond the limits of all ordinary categories of thought. It has been likened to an island amidst the flood of delusions. It is “unconditioned” and transcends both time and space. When delusions completely fade away, joy arises and there will be no sufferings. This is the Third Noble Truth of Cessation.

4. The Path - The Fourth Noble Truth:
The Path is the way leading to enlightenment and nirvana. The Buddha followed the Middle Path which transcends all extremes. Like the Buddha, practitioners of the Middle Path seek to maintain balance between body and mind by transcending self-indulgence and self-mortification. One can achieve this goal by gaining insight into impermanence. (would be nice to include a quote from Master Daehaeng about the inclusiveness of the Buddhist path.)

The path leading to the end of suffering is called the Eightfold Path.