relationship of 2nd/3rd noble truths to the two truths

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tomschwarz
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relationship of 2nd/3rd noble truths to the two truths

Post by tomschwarz »

hello dear friends,

this is a heart felt question that impacts personal bhuddist practice. i chose to post it here, because it also has academic points.

in the 2nd and 3rd noble truths we learn about the cause and cessation of suffering, respectively. is there a relationship between the 2nd and 3rd noble truths and the "two truths" (dualistic/conventional and the absolute truth), respectively? for example, is it possible that the true base (context) of the 2nd noble truth is dualistic/conventional thinking? it is said that in the heart sutra that in fact the 5 skandas are empty (and emptiness is in fact those skandas) -- is then the dual understanding of form, sensation, perception a cause for suffering? where as the enlightened view is that "form is emptiness, emptiness is form" and so on -- non dual, absolute truth? also, is it possible that an underlying context of the full realization of the 3rd noble truth is the absolute truth?

thank you all for your heartfelt thoughts and dharma references

for example 2nd noble truth (from "the four noble truths" his holiness the dalai lama, july 1996:
* we all desire happiness, however, we create the causes and conditions for suffering
* this is rooted in fundamental confusion/ignorance
* there are two types of fundamental confusion/ignorance: ignorance of the laws of causality and ignorance of the ultimate nature of reality
* then there are derivative causes and conditions of suffering known as afflictive emotions or kleshas (6 root, 20 secondary, see abhidharma or 80 unenlightened thoughts see tantric vajrayana, and so on)
* afflictive emotions and thoughts which arise from fundamental confusion/ignorance give rise to volitional actions
* so together delusion and karmic actions are the origins of our suffering

the relative truth (from "the tibetan book of the dead" glossary of key terms, edited by thupten jinpa):
all bhuddist philosophical schools of thought formulate their ontology within the framework of the two truths, the conventional or relative truth (skt. samvrtisatya) and the ultimate truth (skt. paramarthasatya) (...) the conventional truth is defined as the empirical aspect of reality as conventionally experienced through our perceptions. such an aspect of reality is true only within the relative framework of our own veridical experiences (...).

or simply using common sense, the angry expression "how could you have done that!! i can't believe that you did that!!" is both a denial of cause and effect (the first type of fundamental ignorance, 2nd noble truth) and a firmly dual/conventional/relative perspective.
i dedicate this post to your happiness, the causes of your happiness, the absence of your suffering the causes of the absence of your suffering that we may not have too much attachment nor aversion. SAMAYAMANUPALAYA
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