The Importance of Understanding the Four Noble Truths

We have all encountered the Buddha’s teaching. If we are to reap the benefits available within this teaching, a rare opportunity has presented itself. If a human being can fully develop their life without deterioration, that rare benefit is now available. This benefit can be obtained by understanding the Four Noble Truths. Without comprehending the Four Noble Truths, one cannot truly benefit from the Buddha’s teaching. Understanding the Four Noble Truths is the most important fruit to be gained from the Buddha’s dispensation. Therefore, as humans born during the time of Gautama Buddha’s teaching, we should all consider attaining this supreme benefit.

The Noble Truth of suffering, the Noble Truth of the origin of suffering, the Noble Truth of the cessation of suffering, and the Noble Truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering – understanding these Four Noble Truths is the benefit to be gained from the Buddha’s teaching. We must recognize the importance of understanding the Noble Truths. If we don’t know or comprehend the significance of the Noble Truths, we won’t be motivated to understand them.

The Difference Between Those Who Understand and Those Who Don’t

One who has understood the Noble Truths can be free from suffering. If such a person continues in samsāra (cycle of rebirth), they will do so only for a short time. During this brief period, they will not become someone who suffers in the lower realms. They will not be born in a world of suffering or experience a life full of misery. However, one who hasn’t understood the Noble Truths will have to journey through samsāra for an endless time. This endless journey isn’t pleasant or enjoyable. It’s filled with intense suffering, including rebirth in the lower realms. This is the difference between one who has understood the Noble Truths and one who hasn’t.

To develop a mind inclined towards understanding the Noble Truths, we must comprehend the immense benefit and fortune that comes from such understanding. If we study the Buddha’s discourses on the benefits of understanding the Noble Truths and the wellbeing attained by those who have understood them, we can gain a good grasp of this concept.

The Blessed One speaks about the passing away of humans, devas, animals, petas (hungry ghosts), and beings in hell realms. By learning these teachings, we can understand the great benefit available to one who has comprehended the Noble Truths.

The Rarity of Fortunate Rebirth: The Buddha’s Teaching

The Blessed One once took a little soil on His fingernail and asked the monks:

“Monks, which is greater: the soil on my fingernail or the great earth?”

The monks replied:

“Venerable Sir, the soil on the Blessed One’s fingernail is extremely little. It’s not even a fraction, not even comparable to the soil of the great earth. The amount of soil in the great earth is immeasurably larger.”

The Blessed One then said:

“Similarly, monks, among the humans who die in this world, those who are reborn among humans are very few, like the soil on my fingernail. The reason for this is the understanding of the Four Noble Truths. A vast number of people, like the soil of the great earth, pass away from the human realm and are reborn in hell. What is the reason for this? It is the lack of understanding of the Four Noble Truths.”

Next, the Blessed One tells the monks:

“Monks, similarly, among the humans who die in this world, a vast number are not reborn among humans. A large proportion is reborn in the animal realm. The reason for this is the lack of understanding of the Noble Truths. Those who are reborn as humans are very few. This is due to understanding the Noble Truths.”

“Likewise, among humans who die, a large number are reborn in the realm of petas. The reason for this is the lack of understanding of the Noble Truths. Those who are reborn as humans after death are very few, like the soil on this fingernail. These are the ones who have understood the Noble Truths.”

“Those who are reborn among devas after dying in the human world are very few. A large number of dying humans are reborn in hell. Only a few go to the deva realms. Among those who die in the human world, a vast number are reborn in the animal realm, while very few are reborn among devas. Similarly, a very large number from the human world are reborn in the realm of petas, while only a few go to the deva realms.”

So you see, after humans die, those who return to the human world are as few as the soil on the Blessed One’s fingernail. Those reborn in the deva realms are also very few. A vast majority, like the soil of the great earth, are reborn in the suffering realms of petas, animals, and hell. The Blessed One states that the reason for rebirth in these suffering realms is the lack of understanding of the Noble Truths.

Rebirth Patterns for Devas

Similarly, when devas pass away after their lifespan in the celestial realms ends, the Blessed One tells us where they are reborn:

“Among devas who pass away, very few are reborn again among devas. A large number are reborn in hell. Likewise, a large number of devas who pass away are reborn in the animal realm. Very few who pass away from the deva realms are reborn again as devas. Also, a large number of devas who pass away are reborn in the realm of petas. Very few return to the deva realms. The reason for rebirth in suffering realms is the lack of understanding of the Noble Truths.”

The Blessed One also teaches that a large number of devas who pass away are reborn in the realms of hungry ghosts, hell, and animals. Very few are reborn in the human realm.

You see, whether from the deva realms or the human realm, if beings pass away, it is very rare for them to be reborn in these fortunate realms. Whether they are devas or humans, after death, a vast majority are reborn in the hell,  the animal realm, or the realm of petas. This is the nature of beings in these worlds.

Rebirth Patterns for Beings in Lower Realms

For beings in the realm of petas, it is very rare to be reborn in the human realm after passing away. Similarly, very few are reborn in the deva realms. A large number of those who pass away from the realm of petas are reborn in hell, or in the animal realm, or again in the realm of petas.

The Blessed One tells us that when animals pass away from the animal realm, very few are reborn in the human realm. Even fewer are reborn among devas. A vast number of animals are reborn again in the animal realm. A large number are reborn in hell. A large number are reborn in the realm of petas.

When beings in hell pass away, very few are reborn in the human realm. A vast majority of hell beings are reborn again in hell after passing away. Similarly, very few hell beings are reborn among devas. A large number are reborn in hell again. A vast majority of hell beings, without being reborn among devas or humans, are reborn again in hell, the realm of petas, or the animal realm.

The Rarity of Fortunate Rebirth

If we learn this teaching of the Blessed One about the passing away and rebirth of various beings, we can understand in what kind of places these beings are reborn after death. Whether they lived among devas, humans, animals, petas, or in hell, after death, a majority are reborn in places of suffering. If they are reborn in a happy place, it is as rare as the soil on the Blessed One’s fingernail.

For a being born in a lower realm, it is extremely rare to be reborn in a higher realm. Most beings in lower realms, after passing away, are reborn in very painful realms. Beings in samsāra spend a vast amount of time living in extremely painful realms like hell, the animal realm, and the realm of petas. The time spent in human or deva realms is very short in comparison.

The Blessed One tells us the reason for this. If someone is reborn in a realm of suffering after death, the reason is the lack of understanding of the Four Noble Truths. If someone, after death, is not reborn in a lower realm but goes entirely to a higher realm and is reborn there, the reason is the understanding of the Four Noble Truths. Thus, we can understand how important it is to comprehend the Noble Truths.

Developing Inclination Towards Understanding the Noble Truths

If we learn this teaching of the Blessed One about the passing away and rebirth of beings, and gain an understanding of the great benefit and fortune to be gained from comprehending the Noble Truths, we can develop minds inclined towards understanding the Noble Truths. This understanding isn’t merely academic; it’s a matter of utmost importance given the rarity of fortunate rebirth that the Blessed One has described.

May we all be blessed to learn these supreme teachings, have faith in them, and constantly remember them. Through this, may we become people who are truly inclined to understand the Noble Truths, using this rare human birth to its fullest potential. Let us approach these teachings with reverence and determination, striving to integrate them into our daily lives, recognizing that this precious human life is a rare opportunity to break free from the cycle of suffering.