The Four Noble Truths are considered to be the most fundamental teachings in Buddhism. They are the first of many teachings given by the Buddha after his enlightenment near the Ganges River in India. These teachings contain the core essence of the Buddhist path no matter which Buddhist tradition one may follow. Simply put, the Four Noble Truths looks at what is part of every person's life, in one form or another, and that is suffering. It approaches suffering as a medical doctor would approach an illness by saying that first of all there is an illness, secondly there is a cause of the illness, third a possibility for a cure and finally there is a prescription to bring about the cure.

The Four Noble Truths are a spiritual path that does not rely on belief in a divine being or a leap of faith. In fact, any person can apply it to their own life, no matter what their religious or non-religious beliefs.  They instead focus on the cause and effect of suffering and the liberating aspect of joy.

The Four Noble Truths consist of:
1. Life means suffering
2. The origin of suffering is attachment to desires
3. The cessation of suffering is attainable
4. The path to the cessation of suffering

Along with each statement there is a more in-depth teaching, but for this article we will focus on a very simple outline of each teaching.

1. Life means suffering

There are many types of suffering in life, such as suffering from physical or emotional pain, tiredness, disappointments, loss and a myriad of other reasons. Life is certainly not perfect and every person feels suffering during their lifetime. Accepting the fact that things go wrong in life and that we all suffer to some degree is seen as recognizing the “illness” and in that way we can move on to the next step.

2. The origin of suffering is attachment to desires

This may sound a little confusing because it is human nature to desire things for ourselves such as food, a good job, a happy relationship, etc. But greed, obsession and excessive attachments to things that are considered transitory in life are considered patterns that bring us unnecessary worry and distress. In a nutshell, the second truth tells us that nothing in life is permanent, not even our selves, and by realizing the cause of our sufferings, a person can begin to be freed from them.

3. The cessation of suffering is attainable

This truth focuses on breaking the patterns that bring excessive attachments and cravings in life. This is done by realizing how the mind perceives things in life and letting go of grasping thoughts that cling to such things as revenge, disenchantment and disappointments. By focusing on mindfulness and living more fully in the present moment, it is believed that one can begin the path to freedom from suffering.

4. Freedom from suffering is possible

This truth tells us that there is an end to suffering and explains how it can be obtained through what is called the Eightfold Path, which is a practical and ethical guide for a person to apply to their everyday life. The fourth Noble Truth essentially tells us that there is a middle ground between extreme selfishness and extreme selflessness, thus bringing about a state of Nirvana, or freedom from worries, troubles and cravings. The state of Nirvana is considered one of true peace and, because Buddhists believe in reincarnation, it is often felt that this needs to be achieved throughout the course of several lifetimes.

For a more in-depth explanation of the Four Noble Truths, you can read this teaching from His Holiness the Dalai Lama.