| Every religion has their most sacred teachings - for | | | | people believe that a more accurate translation of this |
| example, the Ten Commandments in Judaism and | | | | Truth is that "Life is full of suffering". |
| Christianity - and one of these is the Four Noble Truths | | | | The second of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism is |
| of Buddhism. | | | | the Origin of Dukkha (Samudaya) - which translates to |
| The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism are perhaps the | | | | Suffering is caused by desire. Basically, this Truth |
| most important teachings within the religion. They are | | | | states that our lives are filled with desire - sexual, |
| seen multiple times in the sacred texts of Buddhism, | | | | desire for objects, for life, even for death. We suffer |
| known as the Pali Canon - and they are among the | | | | because we desire many things but we may not |
| truths that Buddha discovered during his journey of | | | | always get what we want. This leads to the third |
| enlightenment. These truths are not supposed to be | | | | Noble Truth - the Cessation of Dukkha (Nirodha). This |
| seen as being theoretical or just as ideas to go by, in | | | | means To eliminate suffering, eliminate desire. This |
| fact, the Buddha states that the Four Noble Truths are | | | | Truth relies on the fact that suffering can be eliminated, |
| actual, which is why they are called noble. | | | | and that people can stop desiring all that they long for |
| Most Buddhists see the Four Noble Truths of | | | | within the earthly realm. |
| Buddhism as the way to Nirvana, and all sects of | | | | The final of the Four Noble Truths is The Way Leading |
| Buddhism hold them sacred. The Mahayana Buddhist | | | | to the Cessation of Dukkha (Magga). This final Truth |
| sect does have a variation to the Four Noble Truths, | | | | translates to the statement To eliminate desire, follow |
| but still holds them to be the word of Buddha and the | | | | the Eightfold Path. Buddhists believe there is only one |
| path to enlightenment. The first Noble Truth is the | | | | way to stop desire, and that is the Noble Eightfold |
| Nature of Dukkha - All life is suffering. This Truth | | | | Path, which consists of: right view, right intention, right |
| reflects on the nature of suffering and all of the | | | | speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right |
| contexts in which it is seen throughout life. Some | | | | mindfulness, and right concentration. |