This week we’re stepping right into the heart of a Buddhist version of a Reality Check. When the Buddha came out of his meditative state, he didn’t run to tell people about all the trippy things he experienced. Instead, he chose his first teaching to be about the Four Noble Truths – the fact that dissatisfaction is part of the human experience, and there’s a way to not get hooked by it.
We break down each of these aspects and how they lead to the most hopeful message of all: that despite the suffering and discomfort we will face in our lives, there is a way forward, so we can face any moment with resilience, joy, and freedom!
The First Noble Truth is that life – the human experience – is marked by dukkha, which is often translated as “suffering,” but it really means unsatisfactoriness, stress, things being a little off-kilter. I think most of us can say YES that’s 100% a reality of my everyday existence as a human on this planet, no matter how luxurious my life seems.
This is because life never perfectly fits our expectations. Ask me how I know, right? And it’s not ALL about the discomfort – but the reality that shit is not always how we want it to be is real.
So this isn’t meant to be a downer. We’re not denying joy, beauty, or love. We’re simply being honest: that alongside joy, there’s also pain. Alongside love, there’s also loss. Pretending otherwise doesn’t protect us — it only makes the truth harder when it finally arrives.
Some of you might be thinking: “Wait — if I focus on suffering, won’t I just attract more of it? Shouldn’t I only focus on the positive so I can manifest the life I want?”
But here’s what Buddhism offers that’s a little different. It’s not about denying the negative or pretending suffering doesn’t exist. It’s about seeing clearly what’s already here.
If we pretend suffering isn’t real because we’re afraid of “manifesting” more of it, then suffering still runs the show — it just does so in the shadows.
The liberating truth is that the Buddha was just being real. He named what we all know but try to avoid. And he didn’t stop there. He said: suffering has causes — and anything that has a cause can be transformed.
That’s not depressing. To me, that’s the most hopeful thing we could hear.
The second Noble Truth reveals the cause of suffering. Suffering arises from craving, clinging, and ignorance. We suffer when we grasp at what’s pleasant, and push away what’s unpleasant, and cling to the illusion of a permanent, separate self.
Think about your own life: maybe craving shows up as endless doom scrolling, or trying to control what other people think about you, or clinging to a relationship even when it’s not healthy because you have an aversion to. being alone. That restless “never enough” energy is the heart of dukkha, of suffering, of discomfort and dissatisfaction.
Now the third Noble Truth is where Buddhism flips the script. If craving is the cause, then letting go is the way out. Letting go of craving, of attachment, of needing things to be a certain way, of needing things to be different than they are.
Letting go of resisting reality.
That’s the ticket.
This doesn’t mean we never feel pain again. It means we don’t have to suffer unnecessarily on top of the pain. We can meet life as it is without being enslaved by it.
Suppose someone experiences a sudden illness, like catching a bad cold. The physical discomfort—the headaches, sore throat, and tiredness—is the first “arrow” (the unavoidable pain of life).
But then comes the second arrow: thoughts like “This is so unfair, I don’t have time to be sick,” “I should have taken better care of myself,” “My body is failing me,” or “Now my whole week is ruined.”
These mental reactions—blame, anxiety about lost time, frustration at circumstances—add layers of suffering on top of the original physical pain. Second arrows.
This second arrow can be applied to anything: illness, resentment, self doubt, disappointment. Letting go, in these contexts, means dropping inner resistance and allowing reality, which transforms pain into spaciousness and possibility.
The good news is that when resistance drops away, freedom appears.
The fourth Noble Truth is the path out of unnecessary suffering. This is called the Noble Eightfold Path. To me, this is all about cultivating Ziji, that inner radiant confidence that lets you know you can handle anything life sends your way.
This path isn’t some bullshit, just say your affirmations or prayers and everything will be ok (at least after you die! 😬) kind of deal.
It’s practical, not abstract. It covers wisdom (right view, right intention), ethics (what we say, do, and how we make a living), and consciousness practices like meditation (right effort, mindfulness, concentration).
AND this path isn’t linear. We don’t take it step by step like a ladder. It’s more of a spiral – we revisit areas, deepen them over time on each visit. Like learning a new instrument or a dance – we keep practicing until it becomes effortless.
So the Four Noble Truths are not a depressing list of complaints. They’re a radical roadmap to freedom. They say:
Yes, suffering exists.
Yes, it has causes.
Yes, it can end.
And yes, there’s a path YOU can walk.
These truths aren’t pessimistic — when truly understood, they’re rhe most optimistic things you’ll ever hear about reality! That you can cultivate ziji – the capacity to be with suffering AND joy – and whatever life sends your way.
You will learn:
// Why facing the reality of the hard parts of life is actually a message of hope and freedom – even JOY
// Why believing “good vibes only” will not set you free
// How (and why) we often create our own suffering and discomfort – and how to flip that shizzle
// The root cause of feeling dissatisfied and why letting go is a path to inner peace and liberation
Resources:
// Episode 60: How to Avoid Unnecessary Suffering
// Episode 64: Cultivating Radiant Inner Confidence – Ziji
// Episode 126: How to Know if You’re Making Spiritual Progress
// Episode 278: Off the Cushion and Into the World, Part 1
// Dancing with Life by Philip Moffitt
// If you’re new to the squad, grab the Rebel Buddhist Toolkit I created at RebelBuddhist.com. It has all you need to start creating a life of more freedom, adventure, and purpose. You’ll also get access to the Rebel Buddhist private group, and tune in every Wednesday as I go live with new inspiration and topics.
// Want something more self-paced with access to weekly group support and getting coached by yours truly? Check out Freedom School – the community for ALL things related to freedom, inside and out. We dive into taking wisdom and applying it to our daily lives, with different topics every month. Learn more at JoinFreedomSchool.com. I can’t wait to see you there!
// Have you benefited from even one episode of the Rebel Buddhist Podcast? I’d love it if you could leave a 5-star review on iTunes by clicking here or on Spotify by clicking here.