MEDITATION ON THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

BY WAY OF THE SIXTEEN ASPECTS

THE FOUR ASPECTS OF THE TRUTH OF SUFFERING

MEDITATION CENTERS ON THE THOUGHT THAT

MEDITATION COUNTERACTS THE
ASPECT TO BE THE CONTAMINATED PHYSICAL & MENTAL
MISPERCEPTION OF:
MEDITATED AGGREGATES ARE:
Impermanent because they are produced the Five Contaminated Aggregates
1. IMPERMANENCE
occasionally (i.e. they do not exist forever). as Permanent.

In the Nature of Suffering because they are the Five Contaminated Aggregates
2. SUFFERING under the outside influence of contaminated as Pure and Pleasurable.
actions (karma) and afflictions.

Empty because they are devoid of a a Permanent, Partless and

3. EMPTINESS supervisory self that is a different entity from Independent Self.
them.

Selfless because they do not exist as an a Self-Sufficient Substantially

4. SELFLESSNESS
independent self. Existent Self.

THE FOUR ASPECTS OF THE TRUTH OF ORIGIN

MEDITATION CENTERS ON THE THOUGHT

MEDITATION COUNTERACTS THE
ASPECT TO BE CONTAMINATED ACTIONS AND
MISPERCEPTION THAT:
MEDITATED ATTACHMENT ARE:
Causes because they are the roots of
1. CAUSE suffering.
Suffering is causeless.

Origins because they again and again Suffering is caused by only one
2. ORIGIN
produce suffering. cause.

Strong Producers because they produce the nature of things is permanent

3. STRONG PRODUCTION
suffering with great force. but their states are changeable.

Conditions because they act as the Suffering is created under the

4. CONDITION
cooperative conditions of suffering. supervision of a deity.
 THE FOUR ASPECTS OF THE TRUTH OF CESSATION
MEDITATION CENTERS ON THE THOUGHT
THAT A SEPARATION WHICH IS A TOTAL MEDITATION COUNTERACTS THE
ASPECT TO BE
EXTINGUISHMENT OF [CONTAMINATED] MISPERCEPTION THAT:
MEDITATED
ACTION AND AFFLICTION IS:
a Cessation because of being a state of there is no liberation from cyclic
1. CESSATION
having abandoned suffering. existence.
certain contaminated states are
liberation (e.g. the Jaina’s assertion
a Pacification because of being a state of
2. PACIFICATION that there is a place of liberation on
having pacified an affliction.
top of the world that is like an
upside-down umbrella).
Auspiciously high because it is a separation there is a liberation that is superior
3. AUSPICIOUS HIGHNESS
which is in the nature of benefit and bliss. to the cessation of suffering.
definite emergence because it is a
liberation, once attained, is
4. DEFINITE EMERGENCE separation from suffering such that it will
reversible.
never return.

THE FOUR ASPECTS OF THE TRUTH OF PATH

MEDITATION CENTERS ON THE THOUGHT
MEDITATION COUNTERACTS THE
ASPECT TO BE THAT A BODHISATTVA PATH OF SEEING
MISPERCEPTION THAT:
MEDITATED REALIZING SELFLESSNESS DIRECTLY IS:

a path because it causes one to proceed to
1. PATH
liberation.
suitable because it is a path which serves
2. SUITABILITY
as an antidote to affliction.
an achiever because it directly realizes the
3. ACHIEVER
nature of the path unmistakenly.
a deliverer because it is a path which
4. DELIVERANCE eliminates suffering and delusion
irreversibly.
there are no paths of liberation from
cyclic existence.
the mind realizing selflessness
directly is not a path of liberation.
paths such as worldly
concentrations, undergoing
asceticism of the five fires, etc., are
paths of liberation.
there is no total eradicator of
suffering.