The Four Noble Truths

1. The Existence of Suffering

2. The Origin of Suffering

3. The Cessation of Suffering

4. The Path to Cessation of Suffering

1. Dukka, the Pali word use by the Buddha and usually translated as suffering encompasses more than the normal interpretation. Dukka: du meaning ‘difficult’ and kha meaning ‘to endure’ implies the very fact that we are living means we will have difficulties to endure. But it is how we endure that creates our difficulties. There are two types of suffering, that on the physical level (bodily pains, negative feelings) and that on the mental level (grasping on “self”). The Buddha said, “Whomsoever has a body forfeits his health… It is impossible to avoid physical pain.” The Buddha also said “ though your body is painful but must not let your mind be so.”

2. Causality was the main theory of the Buddha. The theory of Causality or Dependent Origination follows that all arising phenomena does so from many different causes. These arising phenomena are dependent on each other but give the illusion of one single object. Grasping to the illusion of inherent existence of self is the cause of our suffering.

3. To truly free ourselves from suffering we must attain full enlightenment; to realize and sustain the “pure natural mind” which exists underneath all our delusions. This is also referred to as our Buddha nature.
In Buddhism there are many different methods to reach enlightenment (Actually, the Buddha said there are 84,000 methods because there are 84,000 types of delusions). But, no matter which method or tradition at the core of Buddhism is the theory of selflessness or emptiness and all these methods are used to detach from grasping to the idea of a self or inherent existence.

4. The Eight Fold Noble Path is the way out of suffer and the cure of Dukka. When we practice the Eight Fold Noble Path we understand it is the way to enlightenment. It is extremely simple, yet all inclusive. The Eight Fold Noble Path is Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration, and Right Understanding.
(Right Understanding is the knowledge of The Four Noble Truths). Through this path we can full achieve enlightenment.