| The main ideas of Buddhism are contained in the | | | | Truth teaches that all kinds of suffering have their |
| statements known as the Four Noble Truths and the | | | | origins in craving or selfish desire rooted in ignorance. |
| Middle Way which the Buddha proclaimed in his first | | | | Not knowing things as they are or being ignorant of |
| sermon at the Deer Park near Benares in the first | | | | their true nature, people crave for and slavishly cling to |
| year of his ministry. | | | | things. Through this process, they develop three kinds |
| The Four Noble Truths are : | | | | of craving: craving for sensual pleasures, craving for |
| 1. The Noble Truth of Suffering: This Truth deals with all | | | | existence and craving for self-annihilation. Through |
| the problems of life as represented by birth, old age, | | | | unsatisfied desire or through inadequate response, they |
| disease and death, including sorrows and frustrations | | | | experience sorrows and frustrations. Through the |
| of every kind. Obviously, these things are | | | | three kinds of craving, they also perform various evil |
| unsatisfactory and people try their best to avoid them | | | | actions with the body, speech and mind, which result in |
| and to be free of them. However, not only these, but | | | | the suffering both of themselves and others and |
| all conditioned things can be unsatisfactory as they are | | | | whereby other evils are caused to grow. |
| transient, conflicting and phenomenal, lacking an | | | | To put it simply, the Second Noble Truth deals with the |
| underlying enduring substance, and can cause sorrows | | | | examination and explanation of the origin of the |
| and frustrations to anyone who ignorantly clings to | | | | problems by way of causality. It points out the causes |
| them. For those who want to avoid and to be free | | | | of the problems which one has to destroy if the good |
| from suffering, this Truth teaches that a right attitude, | | | | life is to be experienced. |
| the attitude of knowledge and wisdom, must be | | | | 3. The Noble Truth of the Extinction of Suffering: This |
| maintained towards all things. One must learn to know | | | | third Truth deals with the goal of Buddhist endeavour. It |
| things as they are. The unsatisfactory facts of life | | | | tells us that when ignorance is completely destroyed |
| must be observed, located and comprehended. | | | | through true knowledge and when craving or selfish |
| Beyond this, one has to proceed to other steps set | | | | desire is eradicated and replaced by the right attitude |
| forth in the other Truths. | | | | of love and wisdom, Nirvana, the state of perfect |
| In short the First Noble Truth treats of the problems | | | | peace, absence of defilements and freedom from |
| and problematic situations which are to be observed, | | | | suffering, will be realized. For those who have not com |
| located and comprehended. | | | | - pletely destroyed ignorance and craving, the more |
| 2. The Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering: In this | | | | ignorance and craving are diminished the less suffering |
| Truth, the Buddha examines and explains how | | | | will become. The more their life is guided by love and |
| suffering arises through various causes and conditions. | | | | wisdom, by knowledge and compassion, the more their |
| This Second Truth includes the profound law of | | | | life will become productive of happiness and welfare, |
| causes and effects called the Paticcasamuppada or | | | | both of themselves and others. |
| the Dependent Origination, the practical part of which is | | | | The third Noble Truth serves as a prediction, a hope |
| the well-known law of Karma. In short, the Second | | | | and an urge for the striving of the followers. |