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Originally Posted by Ground
The point here isn't that alleged two levels of truth may cover several specific truths within their own sphere but that only two levels or categories of truths are posited.
So if you posit 'Four Noble Truths' and you posit 'two levels of truth' then you have to decide to which level of the two these 'Four Noble Truths' do belong and once you assign these 'Four Noble Truths' to one of the two levels of truth everything you expound in the context of this level of truth must apply to these 'Four Noble Truths' too. |
There are really only two levels of experience.. Conventional or Ultimate..
The first one:
This mean that at best, we can only find temporary happiness and pleasure in life.
Suffering (or unsatisfactoriness) can be distinguished in three types:
1. Suffering of suffering: this refers to the most obvious aspects like pain, fear and mental distress.
2. Suffering of change: refers to the problems that change brings, like joy disappears, nothing stays, decay and death.
3. All-pervasive suffering: this is the most difficult to understand aspect, it refers to the fact that we always have the potential to suffer or can get into problematic situations. Even death is not a solution in Buddhist philosophy, as we will simply find ourselves being reborn in a different body, which will also experience problems.
Is that Conventional or Absolute?
SUFFERING
The reason that we experience suffering comes ultimately from our mind. According to Buddhism, our main mental problems or root delusions are: attachment, anger and ignorance. Because of these delusions, we engage in actions that cause problems to ourselves and others. With every negative action (karma) we do, we create a potential for negative experiences.
Is one stuck in Conventional or Absolute if they are suffering?
SUFFERING CAN END, NIRVANA IS PEACE
This is the most positive message of Buddhism: although suffering is always present in cyclic existence, we can end this cycle of problems and pain, and enter Nirvana, which is a state beyond all suffering.
The reasoning behind this Third Noble Truth is the fact that suffering and the causes of suffering are dependent on the state of our own mind, so if we can change our own mind, we can also eliminate suffering. The reasons we do actions that cause ourselves and others harm come from our delusions
Now it seems we are starting to move from Conventional to Absolute?....Right?
There is a path that leads from dukkha. Although the Buddha throws responsibility back on to the individual he also taught methods through which we can change ourselves, for example the Noble Eightfold Path.
The Buddha summarised the correct attitude and actions in the Eight-fold Noble Path:
(The first 3 are avoiding the 10 non-virtues of mind, speech and body:)
1.Correct thought: avoiding covetousness, the wish to harm others and wrong views (like thinking: actions have no consequences, I never have any problems, there are no ways to end suffering etc.)
2.Correct speech: avoid lying, divisive and harsh speech and idle gossip.
3.Correct actions: avoid killing, stealing and sexual misconduct
4.Correct livelihood: try to make a living with the above attitude of thought, speech and actions.
5.Correct understanding: developing genuine wisdom.
(The last three aspects refer mainly to the practice of meditation:)
6.Correct effort: after the first real step we need joyful perseverance to continue.
7.Correct mindfulness: try to be aware of the "here and now", instead of dreaming in the "there and then".
8.Correct concentration: to keep a steady, calm and attentive state of mind
The last one sure seems to have aspects of both.. still caught up in the conventional but with a path to the absolute...
Just my take..