Dharma

Dharma

The Buddha's Teaching

The Three Universal Truths

Buddha started on a life of teaching. He wanted to help others become enlightened, and to be free of suffering. Some of his most important teachings were called the 3 universal truths

Annica (everything changes)

• Everything in the whole universe is linked and is interdependent.

• Things are always changing, so if conditions are right, they come into existence, if conditions change they cease.

• Life on earth depends on air, water and the sun - if any of those things change human life will cease

Anatta (no permanent self)

• Nobody stays the same form birth to death

• Your mind, body and personality change

• Some things happen by chance, others by choice

• If you have a fixed view of yourself, you will suffer because things change

Dukkha (suffering)

• Life can never satisfy us because everything changes

• Even having everything we think we want will not satisfy

• This is why people look for something else

• This could be what we may feel when we say we are 'bored'

The Four Noble Truths

If you are unwell you got to a doctor to find out

• what is wrong (diagnosis)

• what has caused your illness (diagnosis)

• what will cure it (prognosis)

• how to get treatment (cure/treatment)

• All life invovles suffering (Dukkha)

• The origin of suffering is craving

• If craving ceases, so will suffering

• Follow the eightfold pathway

Activity

• 1.Write down what each of the 3 universal truths mean

• 2.Use Buddha's Four Noble truths to explain a) to a young child why they might feel sick after eating too much party food b) to a middle aged man why he is feeling unhappy after losing lots of money in a business deal

• 3.Write about a situation where you have felt unhappy and how your learning today could have helped you