“Now this, monks, is the noble truth of suffering: (1) Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, death is suffering; (2) sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair are suffering; (3) association with the unbeloved is suffering, (4) separation from the loved is suffering, (5) not getting what is wanted is suffering. In short, the five clinging-aggregates [our self] are suffering.”

(Đây là Thánh đế về Khổ, này các Tỳ-kheo. (1) Sanh là khổ, già là khổ, bệnh là khổ, chết là khổ, (2) sầu [buồn], bi [thương khóc], khổ [đau đớn], ưu [lo sợ], não [bực tức] là khổ, (3) oán tằng hội khổ [ghét mà gặp là khổ], (4) ái biệt ly khổ [yêu mà xa cách là khổ], (5) cầu bất đắc khổ [muốn mà không được là khổ]. Tóm lại, năm thủ uẩn [chính con người ta] là khổ. (Xem Kinh Chuyển Pháp Luân: Tứ Diệu Đế)).

Notes:
1. I have changed one word in the English version “stressful” into “suffering,” to be consistent with the traditional use of the term “suffering.”
2. The English version doesn’t have “sickness” in the series Birth, Aging, Sickness, Death. Obviously this English version is modern (1993) and doesn’t consider sickness as suffering (but adjustment of the body?)
3. The numbers (1,2,3, 4, 5) in both English and Vietnamese quotes are my addition, to be consistent with the Vietnamese tradition of classification.
4. Explanations in [brackets] are my additions.

So, how do we free/liberate our self from those forms of suffering?

1. In the Buddhism tradition, we think about everything as transitory, illusionary, not lasting, not truly real. Using the language of the Heart Sutra (Bát Nhã Tâm Kinh), everything is real but not real, not real but real. So, you should take everything as real, to some degree, but also not too real. So, be serious with many things, but don’t take anything too seriously. Every thing comes and goes, let them come and go naturally, no stress.

Using the Diamond Sutra language, you can have, and use, everything, just do not attach to anything, then you will get Enlightenment (Ưng vô sở trụ nhi sanh kỳ tâm – no where to hold on to, your Enlightened heart shall be born).

2. In the Christian tradition, you liberate your self by submitting yourself to God. Commit your life and everything into God’s hand, live a righteous way, and let God lead you where He will. Absolutely no worry, always at peace in God.

I simply reiterate here everything you all have heard. Nothing new.

What I tell you brothers and sisters come from my abundant experiences, in both Buddhist and Christian teachings. Both Jesus and Buddha Siddhartha Gotama are my teachers.

Trust me, and trust the Teachers.

With compassion,

Hoành

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