The Four Noble Truths are the essence of Buddhas teachings and are central to the Buddhist path. They are:
- The truth of suffering: Life always involves suffering, in obvious and subtle forms.
- The truth of the cause of suffering: The cause of suffering is craving and ignorance.
- The truth of the end of suffering: Suffering can end, and there is a state of peace and happiness called Nirvana.
- The truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering: The path to the end of suffering is the Eightfold Path, which consists of right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.
The Four Noble Truths are a contingency plan for dealing with the suffering humanity faces, whether it is physical or mental. They are called "noble" because they liberate us from suffering and are the Buddhas basic teaching, encapsulating the entire Buddhist path.
