| The Four Noble Truths are the foundation of | | | | taught by the Buddha, the path of moderation known |
| Buddhism. In many ways, they are a summary of the | | | | as the Middle Way also known as the Noble Eightfold |
| overall teachings of the Buddha. | | | | Paths. |
| (1) The Truth of Suffering – Mental and physical | | | | The Four Noble Truths can be viewed as being divided |
| sufferings are woven into the fabric of our daily | | | | into 2 groups. The first 2 truths belong to the realm |
| existences. Experiences of happiness are | | | | of existence where the effects from each other |
| conditioned and are not permanent; | | | | continue to perpetuate the cycle of live and rebirth. |
| (2) The Truth of the Cause of Suffering – Craving | | | | The latter two truths show that a break from the |
| is the cause of suffering. These include craving for | | | | vicious cycle of cause and effect is possible only by |
| items such as material gains, pleasant experiences and | | | | the discontinuation of the cause that produces the |
| eternal lives. The underlying cause of craving is | | | | effect. |
| ignorance. The ignorance of the self as real; | | | | As can be seen, the central theme of the Four Noble |
| (3) The Truth of Cessation of Suffering – The | | | | Truths is the concept of ‘cause and effect’. |
| cessation of suffering as taught by the Buddha has a | | | | The first of the Four Truths, the truth of suffering, |
| broader perspective. This includes the immediate end | | | | arises from the cause of suffering expressed as the |
| of suffering, good fortunes in future lives and the | | | | second truth. Likewise, the end of suffering in the |
| attainment of nirvana itself; | | | | third truth is the result of the freedom from the cause |
| (4) Truth of the Path - This is the path to salvation | | | | of suffering in the last truth. |