The Noble Truth of Suffering

The Buddha also said to Kasyapa: "Noble Son! It is not appropriate designate suffering as Noble Truth. Why? If we were designate suffering as 'the Noble Truth of Suffering', then cows, sheep, donkeys, horses and the denizens of hell would also have the Noble Truth [of Suffering]. Noble Son! Whoever thinks that the extremely deep [Gambhira] domain / sphere / realm [visaya] of the Tathagata - the eternal, unchanging Dharmakaya [Body of Truth] – is a body nourished by food, such a person does not know the virtues and powers which the Tathagata possesses. This [i.e., such ignorance of the true Buddha’s Nature] is 'suffering'. Why is that? Due to ignorance. A person sees Dharma as non-Dharma, and non-Dharma as Dharma. Know that this person will fall into the unfortunate realms and will recycle births and deaths. This will increase the bonds of illusion and the worry will grow. If it comes to know that the Tathagata is Eternal, one with which there comes about no change, or if it hears the word 'eternal', it will gain birth in heaven. And on reaching emancipation, it will indeed see that the Tathagata is Eternal and Unchanging. When this is seen clearly, it will say, 'I heard about this in the past. Now that I am emancipated, I know that. As I was ignorant regarding the Ultimate, I was recycling between births and deaths to no end. Today, I am enlightened with regard to the true knowledge '. If knowledge reaches this stage, this person is truly a practitioner of suffering. From this, there is much to profit from. One should well practice this, but if one does not know that things are thus, no profit will result. This is what is called knowledge of suffering. This is the Noble Truth of Suffering. If one does not practice thus, this is suffering and not the Noble Truth of Suffering.”

Read More on the Nirvana Sutra, Chapter 10 - On the Four Noble Truths.