In my studies I have tried to learn the ways of life that lead to the path of the Boddhisatva. Although I do not yet believe myself ready to read, and be acceptably open to the message of, the Sutras, I have been studying from various resources over the years. In reading from various texts I have come to believe that to truly understand the path to enlightenment one must accept, understand, and find guidance in the four noble truths. These truths tell us that Dukkha (suffering, animosity, dissatisfaction, etc) exists, Dukkha has a cause, Liberation from Dukkha can be achieved, and that liberation can be found in following the noble eightfold path. The Buddha turned the dharma wheel 3 times. In each of these times the truths were revealed and expanded in a way that the unenlightened could understand.
The first turning of the wheel of Dharma was a teaching of recognition. The Buddha showed that the four noble truths existed. He lead the people to the recognition of Dukkha, the cessation of Dukkha, the way to cease Dukkha, and that the noble eightfold path was the way to cease Dukkha.
The second turning of the wheel of Dharma was a teaching of encouragement. In the second turning the seeds of the Buddha’s teachings began to sprout in the mind of followers. In this encouragement we learn to embrace Dukkha in order to understand it, we learn to understand why and how Dukkha is arising in our lives, we learn that we should seek to cease Dukkha in our lives, and we learn that the noble eightfold path should be lived to cease Dukkha.
The third turning of the wheel of Dharma was a teaching of realization. In the third turning the sprouts of the Buddha’s teachings begin to bloom in the mind of followers. In this realization we learn that we understand our Dukkha, we learn that we understand how and why Dukkha arises in our lives, we learn that we have ceased our Dukkha by truly understanding the cessation of Dukkha and that happiness and Dukkha are in fact one, and we learn that we have begun to follow the noble eightfold path.
What I ask the community and the teachers if this is an accurate summary of the way of practice of the Four Noble Truths as conveyed by the Dharma? I believe that to practice I must understand; in order to understand I must question; in order to question I must learn. I believe I have begun to learn, but I need, now, to question.
I look forward to hearing from all of you.
Gassho.
The first turning of the wheel of Dharma was a teaching of recognition. The Buddha showed that the four noble truths existed. He lead the people to the recognition of Dukkha, the cessation of Dukkha, the way to cease Dukkha, and that the noble eightfold path was the way to cease Dukkha.
The second turning of the wheel of Dharma was a teaching of encouragement. In the second turning the seeds of the Buddha’s teachings began to sprout in the mind of followers. In this encouragement we learn to embrace Dukkha in order to understand it, we learn to understand why and how Dukkha is arising in our lives, we learn that we should seek to cease Dukkha in our lives, and we learn that the noble eightfold path should be lived to cease Dukkha.
The third turning of the wheel of Dharma was a teaching of realization. In the third turning the sprouts of the Buddha’s teachings begin to bloom in the mind of followers. In this realization we learn that we understand our Dukkha, we learn that we understand how and why Dukkha arises in our lives, we learn that we have ceased our Dukkha by truly understanding the cessation of Dukkha and that happiness and Dukkha are in fact one, and we learn that we have begun to follow the noble eightfold path.
What I ask the community and the teachers if this is an accurate summary of the way of practice of the Four Noble Truths as conveyed by the Dharma? I believe that to practice I must understand; in order to understand I must question; in order to question I must learn. I believe I have begun to learn, but I need, now, to question.
I look forward to hearing from all of you.
Gassho.
That's what I'm really getting at. Sit with what you don't understand. I learned some things in reading your words--maybe I heard about that wheel-turning business before or not, I dunno. 
But I'm practicing, as best as I can.
I like this. Thank you Kokuu
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