Four Noble Truths

Buddhism
Basic terms
Three Jewels Four Noble Truths Noble Eightfold Path Buddhahood Enlightenment Nirvana
People
Gautama Buddha Dalai Lama Bodhisattva Sangha
Schools
Theravada Mahayana Zen Vajrayana Nyingma Kagyu Sakya Gelug
Practices
study Dharma Meditation Metta

The Four Noble Truths are a Buddhist teaching.

Truths

• The First Noble Truth: Dukkha

Life is full of suffering. Dukkha usually is translated as suffering. In life, we have illness, poverty, disease, old age and death. We cannot keep what we like and can not avoid what we do not like. If this is all we know we suffer.

• The Second Noble Truth: Samudaya

There is a cause for suffering. The cause of suffering is desire and illusions that are based on ignorance. Because of ignorance wanting something leads clumsy actions, which in turn lead to suffering. Wanting life, wanting death, wanting things, wanting pleasure - all lead to suffering.

• The Third Noble Truth: Nirodha

There is a state of mind free from suffering. By stopping the cravings, the suffering is stopped.

• The Fourth Noble Truth: Marga

There is a way to end suffering. To end suffering we must end our cravings. The way to ending cravings is the Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path

Truth is found through the Middle Way by way of the Noble Eightfold Path.

1. Right Viewpoint - Realizing the Four Noble Truths (samyag-dṛṣṭi, sammā-diṭṭhi)
2. Right Values - Commitment to mental and ethical growth in moderation (samyak-saṃkalpa, sammā-saṅkappa)
3. Right Speech - One speaks in a non hurtful, not exaggerated, truthful way (samyag-vāc, sammā-vācā)
4. Right Actions - Wholesome action, avoiding action that would do harm (samyak-karmānta, sammā-kammanta)
5. Right Livelihood - One's job does not harm in any way oneself or others; directly or indirectly (weapon maker, drug dealer, butcher, etc.) (samyag-ājīva, sammā-ājīva)
6. Right Effort - One makes an effort to improve (samyag-vyāyāma, sammā-vāyāma)
7. Right Mindfulness - Mental ability to see things for what they are with clear consciousness (samyak-smṛti, sammā-sati)
8. Right Meditation - State where one reaches enlightenment and the ego has disappeared (samyak-samādhi, sammā-samādhi)

Other websites

• The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism
• His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama speaks of the "Four Noble Truths" in a four part video series

at youtube.com:

• • Part 1
  • Part 2
  • Part 3
  • Part 4
• The Four Noble Truths as in the Buddhist Encyclopedia.
• At Access to Insight:
  • The Four Noble Truths: A Study Guide (by Thanissaro Bhikkhu)
  • Wings to Awakening Section 3.H.i: The Four Noble Truths (translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu)
• Talks given by Ajahn Sumedho:
  • At Amaravati Monastery's web: The Four Noble Truths
  • PDF version at Buddhanet.net: The Four Noble Truths eBook
• A View on the Four Noble Truths
• The Light of Asia (Book Eight), a poem in iambic pentameter by Sir Edwin Arnold.
• 4 noble truths in pali
• Buddhism - the Four Noble Truths
• The Feeling Buddha: An alternate interpretation of the Four Noble Truths.
• Sixteen Aspects of the Four Noble Truths
• Nirvana Sutra, for full text of the Mahaparinirvana Sutra and link to other tathagatagarbha sutras (including the Angulimaliya Sutra).
• Etymology of the Pāli "ariyasacca"