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Understanding the teachings

BlackFlagBlackFlag
edited October 2010 in Buddhism Basics
Hi everyone,

I'm interested in knowing what everyone's opinion on this is:

I understand and believe the four noble truths. But what makes a person understand these four truths on a deeper level? Does it come through meditation? Experience? Chance? Does anyone have any insight?

Comments

  • CloudCloud Veteran
    edited October 2010
    Meditation. In meditation, where distraction has been eliminated and the edge of the mind honed to a razor's edge, your life's direct experiences and the teachings come together to bring about insight-knowledge, or wisdom, of reality.
  • ShiftPlusOneShiftPlusOne Veteran
    edited October 2010
    I'd say all of the above - the eightfold path.
  • tarikitariki
    edited October 2010
    ShiftPlusOne wrote: »
    I'd say all of the above - the eightfold path.

    Yes, it is the path that, according to the Theravada texts, is to be cultivated. By actually walking/cultivating the path it is possible to actualise nirvana.

    (The first truth is to be understood, the second to be let go of, the third to be realized.)

    This seems to imply that genuine understanding comes from each moment - the more mindful the better! - of our lives. Our lives as lived and experienced each day. Not only time spent "on the cushion".
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    edited October 2010
    Sometimes life beats it into you.
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