Core tenets of Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths are
- All phenomena of life contain discontent, struggle, and disappointment. The condition of all phenomena is Samsara.
- All these struggles, discontentment, etc. are caused by cravings/kinetic energy/inertia to “be” and identify with “I, mine, other”.
- Ceasing the cravings removes the cause of struggles, etc.…
- Training the mind’s perception of the Samsaric condition to cease the cravings is to awaken to the transcendent Buddha mind and to be released from the conditions of Samsara while still in the phenomenal form.
To support these truths, Shakyamuni taught the absolute impermanence of all phenomena as fundamentally constituting of nothing eternal.
Therefore, there can be no soul, no permanent aspect or characteristic of any and all phenomena.
Shakyamuni changed the interpretation of karma to a process of tendencies and conditions that can, but not necessarily manifest in a phenomenal state, like a tree or the experience of a human “being”, or stars and a universe, etc.…
From karma (potential energy manifest as kinetic energy and accumulating inertia (craving)), we manifest in the Samsaric conditions, desires and cravings, and thusly suffering.
To contemplate deeply on this reality, while in our human state, we can thwart our karmic tendencies from manifesting cravings and instead watch with a detached mind, the process of life. This is the awakening that liberates us from suffering.
NaMuMyoHoRenGeKyo