The Third Noble Truth – nirodha
The Third Noble Truth concerns the solution to suffering, which is an end to craving.
This truth is called NirodhaThe third of the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism, meaning the stopping (or cessation) of suffering, through breaking the cycle of craving and desire. , meaning ‘cessation’ or stopping. By attempting to stop all craving, Buddhists can break the cycle of craving and arising. In this way, they will no longer be reborn into another life of suffering.
Nirvana and enlightenment
Nirvana (also spelt Nibbana)An indescribable state, held by Buddhists to be the ultimate goal of religious practice, involving breaking free from the cycle of samsara. can be understood as being freed from continual rebirth into samsaraIn Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, this is the cycle of life, death and rebirth.. The soul is finally ‘blown out’ and is freed from suffering. enlightenmentThe realisation of the truth about life. In Buddhism it releases a person from the cycle of rebirth., which is the state of being awake to the true nature of reality, is necessary for nirvana to be attained.
Mahayana BuddhismOne of the major schools of Buddhism, it includes Tibetan and Zen Buddhism. and TheravadaMeaning ‘teachings of the elders'. It is primarily focused on the Arhat path to enlightenment. This branch of Buddhism can be found in Sri Lanka and South East Asia. Buddhism have different understandings of enlightenment:
- Mahayana Buddhists follow the path of the Bodhisattva (also spelt Bodhisatta)In Mahayana Buddhism the bodhisattva is one who has vowed to obtain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.. A Bodhisattva is a being who has attained enlightenment but remains in samsara until all other beings have been freed from suffering.
- Theravada Buddhists follow the path of the arhatA person who has achieved enlightenment following the Buddha’s teaching.. An Arhat is a being who has attained enlightenment through perfect understanding and perfect compassion. At death, they will not be reborn into samsara, but will have achieved nirvana.
Dhammapada 1-2
The first two verses of the Dhammapada affirm the importance of gaining control of the mind:
All mental phenomena have mind as their forerunner; they have mind as their chief; they are mind-made. If one speaks or acts with an evil mind, dukkha follows them just as the wheel follows the hoofprint of the ox that draws the cart.
Unkind or greedy thoughts will yield unpleasant actions, while loving and compassionate thoughts will yield loving actions. If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows them like a shadow that never leaves them (Dhammapada, Chapter 1, Verse 2). Dhammapada 2 explains that cultivating mindfulness is the pathway to nirvana.
Question
What does ‘nirodha’ mean?
‘Cessation’, or an end to craving.
