The first sermon preached by Buddha after gaining enlightenment was the Four Noble Truths. We could say that the Four Noble Truths are the foundations of Buddhism. The Four Noble Truths are:
(1) The Noble Truth of Suffering,
(2) The Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering,
(3) The Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering,
(4) The Noble Truth of the Path leading to the Cessation of Suffering.
The Four Noble Truths are the briefest synthesis of the entire teachings of the Buddha.
The First Noble Truth shows that birth is suffering, old age is suffering, sickness is suffering, death is suffering to be separat-ed from pleasant things is suffering to be united with unpleasant things is suffering, and not getting what one desires is suffer-ing. The First Noble Truth shows that in consequence of the universal law of imper-manence, all the phenomena of existence whatsoever are subject to change and dis-solution, and hence are miserable and un-satisfactory and that thus without except-ion, they all contain in themselves the germ of suffering.
The Second Noble Truth Having shown the Truth of Suffering, the Second Noble Truth identifies the Cause of Suffer-ing which is traced to craving. Because of our ignorance we crave for things that are impermanent in nature, we are deluded by attachments and aversions. It is not enough to merely intellectually understand the meaning of the Cause of Suffering. It would be most beneficial if we can realize it through self investigation. When we are ignorant of the Cause of Suffering we tend to get more entangled in the web of cravings and aversions.
The Third Noble Truth Having locat-ed the Cause of Suffering in the Second Noble Truth, the Third Noble Truth tells us that Cessation of Suffering would come about by destruction and rooting out craving and ignorance.
The Fourth Noble Truth The last of the Noble Truths tells us how we are to go about to achieve Cessation of Suffering which is by treading of the Noble Eightfold Path.
What is the Noble Eightfold Path ? The Noble Eightfold Path is as follows:
MORALITY
(1) Right Speech
(2) Right Action
(3) Right Livelihood
CONCENTRATION
(4) Right Effort
(5) Right Mindfulness
(6) Right Concentration
Wisdom
(7) Right View
(8) Right Thoughts
From the practical training standpoint the Noble Eightfold Path may be classified into (3) groups as follows : -
(1) Morality group
(2) Concentration group
(3) Wisdom group