The Four Noble Truths are the foundational tenets of Buddhism, which spark awareness of suffering as the nature of existence, its cause, and how to live without it. They are the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering. The Four Noble Truths are:
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Suffering exists: The First Truth identifies the presence of suffering. The word ‘suffering’ here is dukkha in Sanskrit, which can also be translated as pain, unsatisfactoriness, or discontent.
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The cause of suffering is craving: The Second Truth seeks to determine the cause of suffering. In Buddhism, desire and ignorance lie at the root of suffering. By desire, Buddhists refer to craving pleasure, material goods, and immortality, all of which are wants that can never be satisfied.
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The end of suffering comes with an end to craving: The Third Noble Truth, the truth of the end of suffering, has dual meaning, suggesting either the end of suffering in this life or the end of rebirth and associated suffering in future lives.
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There is a path which leads one away from craving and suffering: The Fourth Noble Truth is the path to the end of suffering, known as the Noble Eightfold Path. The path is summarized as follows: right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.
The Four Noble Truths are the essence of Buddhas teachings, encapsulating the entire Buddhist path.
