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The four noble
truths and the
spiritist view
of suffering |
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Leonardo
Machado |
And this is what
suffering comes
down to: the
flower falls, -
and leaves its
scent in the
wind!
-
By Cecília
Meireles
(1)
For many the
idea that the
kingdom of God,
and therefore
enlightenment,
is possibly
found in the
innermost of the
creatures, where
it meets up with
the mundane
observation of
suffering in
people’s lives.
How to be light
and at the same
time to suffer?
- One may
question.
As paradoxical
as it may be,
the reality, as
thought by
several
traditions, lead
us in this
direction.
Allan Kardec for
example on
dealing with the
subject and
writing about
the penal code
of future life
according to
spiritist view
would argue that
suffering is
inherent to the
degree of
imperfection of
the individual.
Therefore the
more evolved one
is the largest
number of
qualities – “perfections”-
and thus fewer
amounts of
afflictions.
Thus, the
external
injunctions
would not be
determinative of
suffering, but
rather the inner
dispositions to
face this or
that situation.
Consequently,
those who have
the same view as
the poet above
may see
affliction not
necessarily as a
genesis of a
suffering but
the blossoming
of a learning
process – of a
perfume.
Everyone
therefore would
go through pains
– which to us
speaks of a more
physical,
neurobiological
realm -; but
not everyone
would experience
suffering –
which could be
interpreted
under the more
psychological
field of
affliction.
(2)
According to
Buddha, life is
full with
suffering
Therefore, the
Buddhist saying
recommends man
to be similar to
the sandalwood
which leaves a
pleasant aroma
in the axe that
chops it.
Going even
further, Buddha
observed
something
similar to the
above, saying
that:
1.
Life is filled
with suffering
(3)
2.
And this
suffering is
caused by the
creature’s
attachment to
illusion.
3.
However total
liberation from
suffering is
possible,
through the
means of
enlightenment.
4.
In this meaning,
it is necessary
to learn and
follow the path
that leads to
enlightenment.
Such precepts
are known as the
four noble
truths and
according to
Buddhist
traditions; they
were glimpsed at
the moment of
his
enlightenment.
They follow the
principles of
change.
So, the second
is the cause of
the first;
whilst the third
is the effect
caused by the
fourth.
In this manner,
on doing so, “Buddha
started
describing the
problem and
afterwards he
explained its
cause. Then he
revealed the
solution of the
problem and
taught how to
get to the
solution”.
(4)
When the “ego”
is extinguished,
there is no sin
It can be
clearly observed
that,
translating
illusion for
imperfection and
enlightenment
for perfection,
we have the same
kardecian
concept.
Likewise such a
view is found in
Hinduism. So ,
Gandhi wrote
that “the
ego” is the root
of mistakes and
sins”. When the
‘ego’ is
extinguished,
there is no sin”(5)
.
For this reason
Krishna
recommended
several actions
as a way of
finishing with
illusion/imperfection,
amongst which –
liberation of
pride and
vanity,
non-violence,
forgiveness,
resolution,
self-control,
absence of
attachment, a
balanced mind in
face of good and
bad events....
This manner,
according to
what it can be
seen, when
divine
luminosity makes
itself totally
present in the
creatures, the
reality
perceived with
suffering will
no longer exist.
In this
instance, one
can go through
suffering, pain,
diseases,
atrocious
endurement and
even worldly
injustices;
however one will
have peace and
serenity and
such situations
being, as the
lady poet wrote
above, perfumes
of
aggrandizement
of the soul.
“I have told
you these things,
so that in me
you may have
peace. In this
world you will
have trouble.
But take heart!
I have overcome
the world.”
(6)
Leonardo
Machado, based
in Recife-
Pernambuco
state- Brazil.
He is a resident
physician in the
area of
Psychiatry and
one of this
magazine’s
collaborators.
[1]
Poetry taken
from the book
“ Antologia
Poética”(
“Poetic
Anthology”).
[2]
This
differentiation
is not
necessarily
scientific or
from a
dictionary,
however it is
written in this
manner in order
to facilitate
the
differentiation
and
comprehension of
these two
realms.
[3]
Or
dissatisfaction,
according to
some.
[4]
Explanations
provided by the
monk Hsing Yün.
[5]
In commentaries
to Bhagavad Gita.
[6]
John 16:33.
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