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BU
DDHANET'SBOOK LIBRA
RY
E-mail: bdea@buddhanet.net
Web site: www.buddhanet.net
Buddha Dharma Education Association Inc.
Ven. Ajahn Sumedho
The Four
Noble Truths
3
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
By Ajahn Sumedho
** ** **
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS is composed of extracts
from various talks given by Ajahn Sumedho and is
available in book form from:
AMARAVATI PUBLICATIONS
Amaravati Buddhist Centre
Great Gaddesden
Hemel Hempstead
Hertfordshire HP1 3BZ
ENGLAND
who retains copyright. Amaravati is Ajahn Sumedho’s
monastery and welcomes visitors; retreats are held there
and several other books by Ajahn Sumedho are
available. Please send SAE for details.
** ** **
4
Contents
Preface
5
Introduction
6
The First Noble Truth
12
Suffering and self view
14
Denial of suffering
16
Morality and compassion
17
To investigate suffering
18
Pleasure and displeasure
20
Insight in situations
23
The Second Noble Truth
27
Three kinds of desire
28
Grasping is suffering
30
Letting go
31
Accomplishment
34
The Third Noble Truth
36
The truth of impermanence
38
Mortality and cessation
40
Allowing things to arise
41
Realisation
45
The Fourth Noble Truth
48
Right Understanding
50
Right Aspiration
56
Right Speech,
Right Action, Right Livelihood 57
Right Effort, Right Mindfulness,
Right Concentration
60
Aspects of meditation
60
Rationality and emotion
62
Things as they are
64
Harmony
66
The Eightfold Path as
A reflective teaching
69
Glossary
70
4
A HANDFUL OF LEAVES
The Blessed One was once living at Kosambi in a wood of simsapa
trees. He picked up a few leaves in his hand, and he asked the
bhikkhus, ‘How do you conceive this, bhikkhus, which is more, the
few leaves that I have picked up in my hand or those on the trees in
the wood?
‘The leaves that the Blessed One has picked up in his hand are few,
Lord; those in the wood are far more.’
‘So too, bhikkhus, the things that I have known by direct knowledge
are more; the things that I have told you are only a few. Why have I
not told them? Because they bring no benefit, no adva