Please find a comfortable posture.
Keep your back straight.
As much as you can.
Gently close the eyes.
Take a deep long breath.
Then release.
Then relax your body.
Relax your mind.
When the Buddha first taught,
He did not begin with complicated ideas.
He began with something very simple.
The truth of our human experience.
He said,
There is suffering.
This was not a dream.
A compliant Oh,
Punishment.
It was a gentle observation.
To be born.
To grow.
Toodaloo!
To lose.
There are all experiences that bring both joy and pain.
Breathe in mindfully.
Be it out mindfully.
Breathe in lovingly.
Breathe out lovingly.
When we love,
We also fear losing.
When we succeed,
We fear failing.
Even when life is good,
We hold a small worry.
That it might change.
This is the first noble truth.
That life contains suffering.
Because everything is changing.
When you breathe in,
Invite peace.
When you breathe out,
Release tension.
Then Buddha told the second noble truth.
The cause of suffering.
He said that our suffering does not come from life itself.
But from the way we hold on to life.
When you exhale Release tension.
When you inhale,
Invite peace.
We clean to what we like.
And we push away.
What we do not like.
We say this should stay.
And that should go.
And all that grasping.
The heart becomes tight.
A person once asked me,
Bhante.
Why do I suffer so much?
I smiled and said,
Because you care so much.
But you have forgotten to relax your heart.
To want is natural.
But to attach.
To demand.
That life obey our wishes.
That is we are the pain.
Deepens.
Now slowly breathe in peace.
Slowly breathe out tension and worries.
The third noble truth is the medicine.
It says,
When we let go of clinging,
We also let go of suffering.
This is not the same.
As giving up.
It is acquired acceptance.
A trust.
That we can face.
What life brings.
Letting go is not losing.
Letting go is finally being free enough to love what is.
When I was a young monk,
My teacher told me If you can hold the moment gently,
Even sorrow becomes your teacher.
I have carried these words for many years.
When you inhale.
Invite peace.
When you exhale,
Release tension.
The fourth noble truth is the path.
A way to live that brings peace instead of confusion.
The Buddha called it The Noble Eightfold Path harmonious perspective.
Seeing clearly what is true.
Harmonious intention.
Moving through the world with kindness.
Harmonious speech.
Using words that do not harm.
Harmonious action.
Choosing what supports peace.
Harmonious livelihood.
Earning a living that helps rather than hurts.
Harmonious effort.
Keep your mind steady.
Not lazy or harsh.
Harmonious mindfulness.
Remembering to be present.
Harmonious concentration.
Calm in the mind.
So wisdom can arise.
These are not rules to follow out of fear.
They are always to train.
The heart to stay open.
When we practice even one of them with sincerity.
We begin to see how peace grows.
Slowly and quietly.
So,
The Four Noble Truths are not a philosophy.
They are a mirror showing us what is already happening.
We suffer.
We cling.
We can let go and we can live wisely.
Every time you stop and take one mindful breath,
You are walking this path.
Every time you forgive someone,
You are practicing the third noble truth.
Every time you choose kindness instead of anger,
You are living the fourth noble truth.
The Buddha did not give us these truths to make us feel small.
He gave them to help us remember that peace is possible.
No matter where you are.
No matter what has happened.
You can begin again.
Right here.
Right now.
With one breath.
Now bring your palms together close to your heart.
Make a wish for yourself for your inner journey.
Then it will brighten your outer journey.
May you be well.
May you be happy.
May you be peaceful.
Choose Loving Kindness.
Thank you very much.
Please open your eyes.
