The Buddhist Noble Truths: Are They True?

The article examines whether the Buddhist noble truths are actually true, using recent neuroscience and psychology, particularly Mark Solms's theory. It focuses on how memories shape personality and how memory reconsolidation could affect those memories, explaining how the cessation of suffering and desire are plausible. Access to relevant memories is a poorly understood process, and the author proposes ways it might be achieved.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Scholarship has not so far raised the question whether the so-called Buddhist noble truths are actually true. The present article addresses this question in light of recent developments in neuroscience and psychology. It bases itself primarily on the theory proposed in some publications by Mark Solms, and on some other recent discoveries in psychology. Concentrating on the role of memories in the formation of personality, it draws attention to the potential effects of memory reconsolidation on those memories and shows how cessation of suffering and cessation of desire make sense in this context. Access to the relevant memories presents itself as a little understood process. Proposals are made as to how it may be attained.