BDHA

What is Buddha’s realization?

Charith Sachindra, Learner of Buddhism for 3 - 4 years in Sri Lanka. A Buddhist

Answered Aug 29

Lord Buddha realized the noble truth. In the sense, it is the ultimate truth anybody can realize about the world.

The Noble Truth is of four parts.

1. The ‘suffering’: There are several categories of suffering Lord Buddha has explained. No matter how hard you try, no one can escape from it unless you follow the path revealed by Lord Buddha. There is a concept in buddhism; ‘Pancha (Five) - Upadhana (grabbed by desire) - Sakanda (Masses/ Entities)’. Lord Buddha explained, having this ‘Five-Entities-Grabbed by Desire’ itself is the ‘suffering’. In brief, these five entities are as follows. When you grabbed these five entities by your desire, so comes the suffering).
1. The physical body (Ruu.pa)
2. The nature of the mind (or thoughts) of experiencing something (it can be joy, sadness or neutral) (Vee.da.na)
3. The nature of the mind (or thoughts) of identifying something (like how you recognize your father by seeing him) (San.gna)
4. The nature of the mind (or thoughts) that generate when doing/ going to do things (either by mentally, orally or physically) (San.ka.ra)
5. The mind itself (Vin.gna.na)
2. The ‘cause of suffering’: Lord Buddha explained the immediate cause of the suffering is the ‘desire’ (Than.ha). But, one important thing to understand is ‘desire’ is not the only cause to ‘suffering’ and it is the immediate cause only. Therefore, it is very important not to misunderstand that, vanishing ‘desire’ itself is not the path to cease the suffering. Because, you cannot vanish ‘desire’ itself. You will see that when I briefly explain the fourth part of noble truth.
3. The ‘cessation of suffering’: Lord Buddha realized there is a end for these sufferings by creatures; That is the ‘Enlightenment’ (Nir.va.na). In very simple sense it comes when you realize and able to see all four noble truths through yourself. Not simple read, memorizing or understanding will grant you this. As I said, realization and able to see it through yourself.
4. The ‘path to cessation of suffering’: Lord Buddha did not stop his journey and kindness just understanding it by himself. He taught others the exact path to follow. It is called Ar.ya (Noble) - As.tan.gi.ka (Eight-stepped) - Mar.ga.ya (Path). In brief, it is as below. There are many detailed ways and presentations of this path.
1. Noble Vision (Understanding without myth (This is the most important. Meaning of ‘Myth’ might be different to what you think). (Samma Ditti)
2. Noble concepts/ attitudes (Samma Sankappa)
3. Noble use of words (Samma Waacha)
4. Noble way of doings (Samma Kammantha)
5. Noble way of living (Samma Aajiwa)
6. Noble efforts (Samma Vaayama)
7. Noble conscious (Samma Sathi)
8. Noble concentration (Samma Samadi)

As I said before, you will see from the above brief path, that the ‘desire’ is not the point to turn the suffering backward. it is not the point to stop suffering; but the correction for your vision is! This correction of your vision, in other words it need to change the way you see the world. In brief, you have to see how the world (not earth, world means, in and out side of you) is built when the reasons present, and how it is vanished when the reasons are gone.

I think, this is more than enough for your basic understanding. But, if you eager to know more, let me know, I’m more than happy to help. Please understand, there can be slight misunderstanding due to language difference/ barriers. Any point need clarifications, just shoot! Don’t take my explanations as perfect. Even though I’m a born buddhist in Sri Lanka, I’m only a learner of the meaning of Buddhism for just 3–4years.