Buddhists: "Not from memorization, but from personal applications and personal experience, explain in detail..

Question

The Four Noble Truths, and The Noble Eightfold Path ?

Explain how following and applying these Truths has impacted and changed your life for the better personally, and how they have helped you in your dealings with other human beings in your life please ?

*Thank You for all your Intelligent, and most encouraging answers.

With Metta.

Answer 1

The First Noble Truth, Dukka, has impacted me greatly throughout my Life. Its understanding has been my goal because in fully understanding Dukka comes a full understanding of all four of the Noble Truths.

From personal experience I have come to realise that my own suffering began early with cravings for all sorts of things. It took some time (during my teen years)..I am now 48...to realise this as I had been raised a Catholic and was completely unaware of the Truths at all.

It was during a Catholic Retreat that I realised that I was in fact Buddhist, interesting because it was the first time that I meditated and I became aware of my self as not me. I had no training but there was the truth. The First one. It was that I realised that my own identity was causing my troubles. At that point I tried for some years to understand what it was I had discovered.

Many years later I found some references to proper meditation and was able to discern my identity as false and my true nature was always hidden. I did this by repeating my meditation, my peers thought I had gone crazy as I'd spend hours just sitting and thinking, while they went drinking and "other" things. At that time my major "suffering" was alcohol and "womanising". I was then in my early 20's and searching for answers, as well as searching for a mate, I went to Thailand where I knew I'd find my life mate, this revelation was from my very first meditation back in my teens, even then I had made plans to find a Buddhist mate.

After my marriage in Thailand, my life changed dramatically. I gave up drinking, I haven't touched a drop since 1984 nor have I had the slightest inkling to womanise. All without training, just practise of the Eightfold Noble Path albeit poorly because of lack of knowledge, but I was motivated.

Since then I have managed to make friends of many different folk because I do not have an ego any more. I came to realise after much reading, that my ego was to blame all along, I relied on it to get me through the day and it was causing all my trouble. I'd voice my opinion at everybody and it lost me many friends before I was married. It was insatiable. The funny part was I knew it but couldn't help it at the time. I now never voice my opinion and when I'm asked for it I always consider the other's view first even to the point where others may think I am "weak". It has also earned their respect. It matters not to me as my ego is unbruisable, I have none, I have released it for over 20 years and now it no longer bothers me or causes me pain.

Others now come to me because I am so calm, they actually ask me my advice on all subjects. This never happened to me before, folks would avoid me like I had the plague because they knew how fiery I was...no longer.

I am sought for assistance because I don't drink, help with marriage breakdown because I am so "knowledgeable", help with advice about their kids...I have no kids....I am only too happy to help any who ask, it is humbling that so many ask me for my help. Others now comment how easily I make friends, yet I know how hard it was for me 20 years ago. Comments like how can you like that guy, he's an "a**hole" are common for me, I like everybody and can get on with all, this is the major impact Buddhism has had on my life, and it all because I practise the Eightfold Noble Path every day with everybody...no exceptions.

I also live and work in Saudi Arabia with folks from the U.K, some of the most arrogant folk on earth if you listen to the Saudi's and vice versa if you listen to the English guys, yet both comment to me "on the side" how easy it is to work with me..and how its nice to meet a gentle, understanding guy like me....they just don't know me as I used to be I'm certain...

The First Noble Truth has helped me immensely and it is my opinion that it is the most important of them, it has been said by some Bukkhus that understanding this one will give an understanding of them all, I have to agree.

I'm still studying its complexity and incorporating it into my understanding of the Dharma, its challenging but very rewarding....but I still need to practise my meditation which I've been neglecting. This I found is also very important for further development as I still have clinging attitudes...I still smoke but am studying my clinging to this stupidity and am preparing my psyche for its eventual demise...my wife will be very glad I did..

These are my personal trials with the Dharma and the four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Noble Path...I haven't covered everything but this was difficult to do....but worth the effort...

Please forgive me if I sound trite in my explanation. I would not normally voice my story to anyone as the story would sound like I'm being proud and I would not normally talk like that...You have asked though and so I've included my feelings as part of the explanation...

Peace from a Buddhist...

Answer 2

I heard that the Buddha said 'Try it out, see if it works and if it does, then practice it'. He also described a means of meditation.

I practiced meditation. I found it made me happier. More aware of the wonder of life. The joy of small things, like a hot shower, a sunny day, the laughter of my daughter, a cup of coffee.

And so I try to live. Just drifting along, living life. Am I perfect? No. Do I kick myself sometimes? Yes. That's life.

Peace and joy to you.
.

Answer 3

I am trying to strive to be 'nobody'.As a 'nobody',I become one with everyone.People do not feel threaten by me.

Metta to all.

Answer 4

Well, it was the first philosophical theory that actually made sense to me. So that was good.

Answer 5

Buddism is DooDoo