Noble Truth II — Causes

We have discussed the First Noble Truth presented by the Buddha: Suffering exists and we need to fully understand the nature of suffering.

The Second Noble Truth is that our suffering is caused by clinging, grasping, or craving. In other words, a tightening, even at a level before we can perceive it, around a thought or a feeling. This tightening can be attraction, aversion, or a neutral ignorance toward what is arising in the mind. The teaching is that we need to abandon the craving, releasing the tension around the arising of experience.

So, recognizing our suffering and understanding it fully is not enough. We need to abandon this tension that arises in the mind. To abandon this tension, we relax physically, emotionally, and mentally when we notice we are ‘caught’ by a thought or feeling.

Understand that we abandon the tension; let it go. We don’t try to push the tension away, suppress it, rise above it, or try to turn it into something we like better (something different to cling to). We just let it go.

When we are able to abandon the suffering tension, let it go, let it be without becoming attached to it, it may not disappear completely, but without our full attention, the suffering runs out of energy and dissolves on its own. When there is no more desire, aversion, or ignoring, new suffering does not arise, and you can begin to smile again.

So, the prescription is Release, Relax, and Smile.