All of the Buddha’s teachings are surrounded within what are called the Four Noble Truths, in the same way, he explained, as the footprints of all the animals in the jungle fit into the footprint of the elephant. These Truths reveal the elementary problem of our existence and its resolution.
- DUKKHA
Dukkha is translated as ‘suffering’, but in fact it has a more extreme meaning than is implied by that word. Dukkha refers to the long term unsatisfactoriness of unenlightened existence. It covers the whole variety of experience, from severe physical and emotional pain to
the subtlest sense of unease and lack.
- A CAUSE OF DUKKHA
Dukkha is not our unalterable human difficulty. It is dependent upon certain causes and conditions, in particular upon the cravings that arise through a fundamental delusion of our human nature.
- AN ENDING OF DUKKHA
There is a complete ending of dukkha, a state of freedom and true happiness.
- A PATH LEADING TO THE ENDING OF DUKKHA
Dukkha is apprehended, its causes abandoned and its end
realized through cultivation of the Noble Eight fold Path. This path involves an education or training of every aspect of our lives, inner and outer. The eight factors are as follows
1) Right View.
2) Right Intention.
3) Right Speech.
4) Right Action
5) Right Livelihood.
6) Right Effort.
7) Right Mindfulness.
8) Right Concentration.
