Understanding the Four Noble Truths
"Only by knowing the Four Noble Truths can one become a Stream-enterer, Once-returner, Non-returner, and Arahant. Without knowing the Four Noble Truths, can one become a Stream-enterer? Without becoming a Stream-enterer, can one become a Buddha or Arahant? One must start with Stream-entry, understand?
Not knowing the Four Noble Truths (that's avijjā, Lord). Not knowing the five aggregates (that's avijjā, Lord). Wrongly perceiving any of the five aggregates as beings (that's avijjā, Lord). With wrong perception, who desires? (taṇhā, Lord). Clinging to 'must have it' (upādāna, Lord).
When we categorize avijjā, taṇhā, and upādāna into Noble Truths, which Truth is it? (Origin Truth/Samudaya Sacca, Lord). #Is_Origin_Truth_a_person? Is it devas? Brahmas? Sons and daughters? Is it a self that knows Origin Truth as Origin Truth, or is it Path Truth? #It's_Path_Truth_that_knows.
Wherever there is Origin, don't the resultant aggregates arise? What appears - beings or five aggregates? Can anyone who gets aggregates escape aging, sickness, and death? Which Truth is this? (Suffering Truth/Dukkha Sacca, Lord). Is it happiness or suffering? Isn't it taught as (1) Origin, (2) Suffering? This is #Origin_and_Suffering.
The path we've come on has been with two Truths - (1) Origin, (2) Suffering, (3) Origin, (4) Suffering. Isn't this worth examining? Think about it, understand? That's why #isn't_it_taught_that_knowing_the_Four_Noble_Truths_is_crucial?
The Four Noble Truths are only heard when a Buddha appears, understand? Without a Buddha's appearance, would we hear about aggregates, sense bases, elements, truths, and dependent origination? No, we wouldn't. #Only_heard_when_a_Buddha_appears. Isn't this worth examining?..."
