The Four Noble Truths

Terms

Sanskrit : Catvāri Āryasatyāni (चत्वारि आर्यसत्यानि)

Pāli : Cattāri Ariyasaccāni

Etymology

The term means:

— Catvāri / Cattāri: four;

— Ārya / Ariya: noble;

— Satya / Sacca: truth.

The Four Noble Truths form the core of the Buddha's first teaching after his Enlightenment.

They form the basis of the entire Buddhist path.

Translations in the major languages of Buddhism

Sanskrit : Catvāri Āryasatyāni

Pāli : Cattāri Ariyasaccāni

Chinois : 四聖諦 (Sì Shèngdì)

Tibétain : འཕགས་པའི་བདེན་པ་བཞི་ (Pakpé Denpa Shi)

Japonais : 四聖諦 (Shitai)

Coréen : 사성제 (Saseongje)

Vietnamien : Tứ Diệu Đế

Thaï : อริยสัจ ๔ (Ariyasat Si)

Anglais : Four Noble Truths

Français : Quatre Nobles Vérités

Definition

The Four Noble Truths describe:

— the reality of suffering;

— its origin;

— its cessation;

— the path that leads to its disappearance.

They are not dogmas.

They are an invitation to observe human experience with clarity.

First Noble Truth

DUKKHA

Suffering, dissatisfaction, the fragility of existence.

Life includes:

— birth;

— sickness;

— old age;

— death;

— separations;

— frustrations.

Understanding Dukkha is the starting point of the path.

See also:

006_DUKKHA

Second Noble Truth

SAMUDAYA

The origin of suffering.

The Buddha teaches that suffering primarily arises from:

— attachment;

— insatiable craving (Taṇhā);

— ignorance.

It is not the world that creates suffering, but our way of clinging to it.

Third Noble Truth

NIRODHA

The cessation of suffering.

Since suffering has a cause, it can come to an end.

This liberation is called:

Nirvāṇa

See also:

005_NIRVANA

Fourth Noble Truth

MAGGA

The path that leads to liberation.

This path is:

The Noble Eightfold Path

— Right View

— Right Intention

— Right Speech

— Right Action

— Right Livelihood

— Right Effort

— Right Mindfulness

— Right Concentration

See also:

019NOBLEPATH

A Medical Analogy

The Four Noble Truths are often compared to a therapeutic approach:

Identify the symptom.

Understand the cause.

Know that healing is possible.

Follow a treatment.

The Buddha acts as a physician of the mind.

Why are they called « noble »?

Because they lead to inner freedom.

They are not reserved for an elite.

They become noble when understood and lived.

Understanding according to traditions

THERAVĀDA

The Four Noble Truths constitute the foundation of all teachings.

MAHĀYĀNA

They are deepened through compassion and emptiness.

VAJRAYĀNA

They are integrated into methods of mind transformation.

Associated Images and Symbols

THE WHEEL OF DHARMA

Buddha's first teaching.

THE PHYSICIAN

Traditional image of the Buddha healing suffering.

THE PATH

The path of transformation.

THE LOTUS

The possibility of Enlightenment despite the difficulties of existence.

Related Concepts

005_NIRVANA

006_DUKKHA

009_KARMA

010_SAMSARA

019NOBLEPATH

020RIGHTVIEW

021RIGHTINTENTION

030_WISDOM

Quote

« This is the Noble Truth of suffering.This is the Noble Truth of the origin of suffering.This is the Noble Truth of the cessation of suffering.This is the Noble Truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering. »

— Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta

Buddhachannel — A Simple Practice

When facing a current difficulty, ask yourself four questions:

What is the suffering?

What is its cause?

Can it be eased?

What first step can I take today?

The Four Noble Truths are not just an ancient teaching.

They constitute a method of understanding and transformation that is still relevant today.

Keywords

Four Noble Truths • Dukkha • Samudaya • Nirodha • Magga • Noble Path • Enlightenment • Liberation • Buddha • Buddhism

Buddhachannel Multilingual Buddhist Encyclopedia

014FOURNOBLE_TRUTHS

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