Chapter Eight
Realising Well-being
When we have toothache, we know that not having toothache is happiness. But later, when we don't have a toothache, we don't treasure our non-toothache. Mindfulness teaches us to appreciate the well-being that is already there. With mindfulness, we treasure our happiness and make it last longer.
Being in touch with the Third Noble Truth - the cessation of suffering. Practice walking meditation and tea meditation in order to water the seeds of joy in yourself.
Please ask yourself, "What nourishes joy in me? What nourishes it in others? Do I nourish it enough?" These encompass the Third Noble Truth. Well-being - the cessation of suffering - can be enjoyed as the precious jewels that you already have: eyes that see, lungs that breathe, lips that smile. When you are suffering, look deeply at your situation, and find the conditions for happiness that you already have.
When we begin the first stage of the Third Noble Truth, we have some happiness, but we don't always realise it. We are free, but we don't know it. When we are young, we are strong and healthy but we don't always appreciate it. Only when we have trouble walking do we realise how great it is to have two healthy legs. The first turning of the Third Noble Truth is the "Recognition" of the possibility of the absence of suffering and the presence of peace. Not having peace and joy at the moment can be remedied by remembering it from the past, or watching it in others. We see that well-being is possible.
The second turning is to "Encourage" ourselves to find peace and joy. If you want to garden, you have to bend down and touch the earth. Gardening is a practice, not just an idea. To practice the Four Noble Truths, you have to touch deeply the things that bring you peace and joy. When you do, you find that walking on the Earth is a miracle, washing the dishes is a miracle, being with friends is a miracle. The greatest miracle is to be alive and our suffering is not worth suffering for! How many people kill themselves because of rage or despair? In that moment, they do not see the vast happiness that is available. Mindfulness puts an end to such limited perspective. The Buddha faced his own suffering and discovered the path to liberation. Don't run away from things that are unpleasant just so you can have things that are pleasant. Put your hands in the earth. Face your difficulties and grow new happiness.
At first, your joy is limited, esp. if it is just covering up suffering. Embrace your suffering, smile, and discover the happiness in front of you. Buddhas and bodhisattvas suffer too. The difference between them and us is that they know how to transform their own suffering into joy and compassion. They know how to turn garbage into flowers. Don't throw away your suffering. Touch it. Face it. Your joy will be deeper. Suffering and joy are both impermanent. Learn the art of cultivating joy.
And so you come to the third turning of the Third Noble Truth, the "Realisation" that suffering and happiness are not separate; your joy is no longer fragile, but true joy.
The Fourth Noble Truth is the way out of suffering. The removal of pain is possible. Turning the wheel of Fourth Noble Truth we recognise that the Eightfold Path (right view, right thinking, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right diligence, right mindfulness, right concentration) can lead us out of suffering, although we don't know yet how to practice it.
In the second turning, we "Encourage" ourselves to practice this path. Learn, reflect, and practice. Read, listen, discuss = be open so we can see where to put what we learn into practice. If learning is not followed by practice, it is not true learning.
Our real difficulties in life have everything to do with the path. A practice that does not involve our real suffering is not a path we need. Living irresponsibly can cause suffering; transforming your lifestyle can bring an end to suffering. Transformation is gradual, but changing our behaviour can bring an end to suffering. If we see that smoking is making us ill, we try to stop. In the second stage of the path, there is an increase in daily freedom. The path becomes real as we practice what we have learned.
The Buddha asks us to identify the nutrients that feed our pain, and then to stop ingesting them. We do our best, and ask our siblings to help us. Difficulties do not go away by themselves. When we resolve to stop feeding our suffering, a path appears - which is the Noble Eightfold Path to well-being. The Buddha is a physician - that is why we bring our suffering to him. We must also be physicians and transform our difficulties and find that well-being is possible. The Eightfold Path is well-being, and we must follow it. The third turning of the wheel of the Forth Noble Truth is the realisation of this.
When your teacher assigns you a koan (kung-ah), such as "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" you have to ask yourself, What does this have to do with my real suffering, my depression, my fear, my anger? Do this in a way that transforms your suffering and not as an escape.
"This is suffering. This suffering needs to be seen clearly. The roots of this suffering need to be clearly understood. I have seen this suffering. I have seen how it manifests. I have seen its contents and roots."
Understanding things as they are (yatha bhuta jnana) emerges from our life and our practice. Whomever sees the ending of suffering sees suffering, the making of suffering, and the path. Interbeing is an important part of all the Buddha's teachings. When you touch one, you touch all.
It is important to understand the interbeing nature of the Four Noble Truths. When we look deeply into any one of them, we see the other three. The truth of suffering, how it came to be ... how to end suffering and touch well-being. WE see the efficacy of the path. The Four Noble Truths are one.
We need suffering in order to see the path. The origin, the cessation, and the path leading to the end of suffering are all found in the heart of suffering. If we are afraid to touch our suffering we will have no path to peace, joy and liberation. Don't run away. Touch your suffering and embrace it.
Let us reframe the Four Noble Truths.
Cessation - the Third Noble Truth means the absence of suffering, which is the presence of well-being. So instead of saying 'cessation', we can simply say 'well-being'. If we do that, we can call The Fourth Noble Truth 'the Noble Eightfold Path That Leads to Well-being.' Then, instead of calling the Second Noble Truth the 'origin of suffering', we can say that there is a path of eight wrongs = wrong view, wrong thinking, wrong speech, wrong action, wrong livelihood, wrong diligence, wrong mindfulness, and wrong concentration.
If we live according to the Noble Eightfold Path, we cultivate well-being and our life will be filled with joy, ease and wonder. If our path is not noble, if there is craving, hatred, ignorance and fear, we may find that suffering is naturally the outcome. The practice is to face our suffering and transform it into well-being. WE need to study the Noble Eightfold Path and learn ways to put it into practice in our daily lives.
