The Four Noble Truths

The Four Noble Truths make up the cornerstone of the dharma, the teachings of the Buddha. Here they are: 

1. To the unenlightened, life is filled with dukkha.
2. Dukkha is caused by selfish desire, anger, and ignorance.
3. Dukkha can be diminished, extinguished, and eliminated.
4. The way or practice leading to the end of dukkha is called the eightfold Path. 

Dukkha is a Pali word (dukkha in Sanskrit) meaning “unsatisfactoriness.” Sometimes, it is translated as “suffering” or chronic frustration, anxiety, and stress. It is not necessarily suffering as we know it. Happiness, for instance, can be unsatisfactory due to its impermanence. 

Here is another way to interpret the Four Noble Truths: 

1. Life can stink
2. Because of our ignorance,
3. But there’s a way to make it smell good.
4. Here’s how. 

The Noble Eightfold Path

The path leading to the end of dukkha, or the Way to make life satisfactory, is called the Eightfold Path. The Path is also known as the “Middle Way” because it avoids two extremes, one extreme being the search for happiness through the pleasures of the senses, and the other being the search for happiness through self-mortification (shame, humiliation, regret, etc.) in different forms of asceticism (severe, hermit-like, secluded, etc.), which is painful and non-productive. It is divided into three stages: morality, equanimity of mind, and wisdom and insight.

Although the word “right” is often used in expressing the Path’s wisdom, ethical conduct and mental discipline, it is helpful to also think in terms of the words “realistic and skillful.” 

Here is the Eightfold Path: 

Wisdom (Insight) 

1. Right, realistic, and skillful understanding.
2. Right, realistic, and skillful thought.

Ethical Conduct (Morality) 

1. Right, realistic, and skillful speech.
2. Right, realistic, and skillful action
3. Right, realistic, and skillful aspiration (livelihood)

Mental Discipline (Equanimity of mind) 

1. Right, realistic, and skillful effort (exertion)
2. Right, realistic, and skillful mindfulness (attentiveness)
3. Right, realistic, and skillful concentration

Following the Eightfold Path is an evolutionary process through many states of spiritual development until the ultimate goal is reached, which is enlightenment. 

Practically, the entire teaching of the Buddha is concerned in some way or other with this Path. The Buddha explained it in different ways and in different words to different people, according to the stage of their development and their capacity to understand it. 

All eight elements are linked, and each helps to cultivate the others. They are not listed in order of importance, nor are they to be followed one at a time. They should be followed to the best of one’s ability all at the same time. When practiced, when you try to live your life by using these guides, you are perfecting the three essentials of Buddhist training, namely: Ethical Conduct (Sila), Mental Discipline (Samadhi), and Wisdom (Panna).