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Episode 5, 5 December 2014, Gautama Buddha's Third Truth Intro Welcome to Buddhism Guide’s Audio blog. A contemporary look at Gautama Buddha’s Teachings, from Karma Yeshe Rabgye. Find out more, at http://www.buddhismguide.org A transcript of this episode is available at http://www.buddhismguide.org/audio-blog-archive/audio-blog-transcripts/episode-5-transcript-gautama-buddhas-third-truth This Episode: Gautama Buddha's Third Truth. [00:17] 1. This Truth is called Nirvana, liberation, enlightenment, and so on [00:22] Some think, that if you reach Nirvana you will never be born again, others think you will be reborn, but you can pick where. For people who do not believe in rebirth, they see it as something we can achieve in this lifetime. 2. The Highest Happiness. [01:46] Gautama Buddha said that Nirvana is the highest happiness, but he wasn't talking about mundane happiness we strive for in our everyday lives. He was talking about absolute freedom from evil, freedom from craving, attachment, desire, hatred and unawareness. All of this we can achieve in this very lifetime by truly understanding the Four Nobel Truths, and following the Eight-fold Path. Once we start mediating on these teachings and turning them from knowledge to wisdom, we will start to change our actions of body, speech and mind. Remember, knowledge is something learned, something intellectual, whereas wisdom is a part of our very lives. 3. The first bit of good news. [02:39] So this is the first bit of good news. Nirvana can be reached by anyone, whether they call themselves Buddhist or not. You just have to put in the work. 4. A Second Bit of Good News. [04:02] So this is a second bit of good news. We do not have to die to attain Nirvana. It can be obtained during this lifetime. 5. We do not have to die to realise Nirvana. [04:54] So in a nutshell I believe Nirvana isn't a metaphysical thing, it isn't a place to go to, and we do not have to die to realise Nirvana. It is an extinguishing of our afflictive states of mind and can be reached by anyone in this very lifetime. Outro. [05:14] You can find more information about this subject in Karma Yeshe Rabgye’s books at http://www.buddhismguide.org/books/ The best way to catch a snake – A Practical Guide to the Buddha’s Teachings; Life’s meandering path – A Secular Approach to Gautama Buddha’s Guide to Living; Ripples in the stream – A Pragmatic Journey Through Gautama Buddha’s Teachings. They’re available now, from Amazon and Kindle. Thank you for listening, and I hope you enjoyed this blog post.