Four noble truths: 6 definitions
Introduction:
Four noble truths means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
Images (photo gallery)
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Dhamma Study: Introduction to the DhammaThe Four Noble Truths state that:
- Life is unsatisfactory or suffering (dukkha).
- Suffering arises because of desire.
- There is a path leading to the cessation of suffering.
- The path leading to the end of suffering is the Eightfold Path.
The root of Dependent Origination is ingnorance. That is defined as ignorance of the Four Noble Truths. When one does not understand these truths directly one is subject to continual rebirth in the wheel of existence.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Google Books: The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical SystemsThe Four Noble Truths (having Sixteen Aspects) are known in Tibetan as 'phags pa'i bden bzhi.—Accordingly, [while describing the Vaibhāṣika and Sautrāntika way of establishing coarse and subtle selflessness]: The Sautrāntikas’ standpoint on the coarse and subtle selflessness of persons and their non-admission of a selflessness of dharmas are like that of the Vaibhāṣikas. [...] According to the Vaibhāṣikas, if you meditate at the conclusion of the fourth mental absorption with a mind based on an object of meditation that is any of the sixteen aspects of the Four Noble Truths, you traverse the last four paths of the Pratyeka-Buddha and Bodhisattva; and, by meditating on any of those sixteen objects of meditation — impermanence and so forth — on the basis of any of the nine uncorrupted stages, you necessarily attain the Arhat-ship of a Śrāvaka. In the Sautrāntika system, the last four paths of all three vehicles necessarily arise for the first time solely through taking as your basic object a construct that is devoid of self.
The Four Noble Truths are are:
- There is suffering,
- There is an origin of suffering,
- There is a cessation of suffering, and
- There is a path to the cessation of suffering.

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgrahaFour Noble Truths:—A technical term in Buddhism corresponding to the Sanskrit caturāryasatya defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 21):
- Suffering (duḥkha),
- Arising (samudaya),
- Cessation (nirodha),
- Path (mārga).
The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., catur-āryasatya, ‘four noble truths’). The work is attributed to Nagarguna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
Source: Buddhist Door: GlossaryThe Four Noble Truths refer to the primary and fundamental doctrines of Shakyamuni:
- Doctrine of Suffering — suffering is a necessary attribute of sentient existence (Effect of Suffering)
- Doctrine of Accumulation — accumulation of suffering is caused by passions (Cause of Suffering)
- Doctrine of Extinction — extinction of passion (Effect of Happiness)
- Doctrine of Path — Path leading to the extinction of passion (Cause of Happiness); i.e. Eightfold Path.
The first two are considered to be related to this life, and the last two to the life outside and beyond this world. The Four Noble Truths were first preached to Shakyamunis five former ascetic companions.
Source: WikiPedia: BuddhismThe Four Noble Truths are one of the most fundamental Buddhist teachings. In broad terms, these truths relate to suffering (or dukkha), its nature, its origin, its cessation and the path leading to its cessation. They are among the truths Gautama Buddha is said to have realized during his experience of enlightenment. Certain major Mahayana sutras, including the Mahaparinirvana Sutra and the Angulimaliya Sutra, present variant versions of the Four Noble Truths.
The Four Noble Truths are:
1) The Nature of Suffering (Dukkha): — "This is the noble truth of suffering: birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, death is suffering; sorrow, lamentation, pain, grief and despair are suffering; union with what is displeasing is suffering; separation from what is pleasing is suffering; not to get what one wants is suffering; in brief, the five aggregates subject to clinging are suffering."
2) Sufferings Origin (Samudaya): — "This is the noble truth of the origin of suffering: it is this craving which leads to renewed existence, accompanied by delight and lust, seeking delight here and there, that is, craving for sensual pleasures, craving for existence, craving for extermination."
3) Sufferings Cessation (Nirodha): — "This is the noble truth of the cessation of suffering: it is the remainderless fading away and cessation of that same craving, the giving up and relinquishing of it, freedom from it, nonreliance on it."
4) The Way (Marga) Leading to the Cessation of Suffering: — "This is the noble truth of the way leading to the cessation of suffering: it is the Noble Eightfold Path; that is, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration."
Source: Shambala Publications: GeneralFour noble truths (in Sanskrit: āryasatya; in Pali: ariya-satta) are the basis of the Buddhist teaching. They are:
- the truth of suffering (duḥkha);
- the truth of the origin (samudāya) of suffering;
- the truth of the cessation (nirodha) of suffering;
- the truth of the path that leads to the cessation of suffering.
1) The first truth says that all existence is characterized by suffering and does not bring satisfaction. Everything is suffering: birth, sickness, death; coming together with what one does not like; separating from what one does like; not obtaining what one desires; and the five aggregates (skandha) of attachment that constitute the personality.
1) The second truth gives as the cause of suffering craving or desire, the thirst (tṛṣṇā) for sensual pleasure, for becoming and passing away. This craving binds beings to the cycle of existence (saṃsāra).
3) The third truth says that through remainderless elimination of craving, suffering can be brought to an end.
4) The fourth truth gives the eightfold path as the means for the ending of suffering.
Non-recognition of the four noble truths is ignorance (avidyā). The discovery of the four noble truths by the Buddha constituted, according to the various traditions, his actual enlightenment (bodhi). Buddha expounded these truths in the Benares discourse as his first teaching immediately after his enlightenment.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Full-text (+116): Samudaya, Nirodha, Caturaryasatya, Marga, Duhkha, Anupubbikatha, Buddha, Ariya Sacca, Catusaccapaccavekkhana, Catusaccabuddha, Samma Ditthi, Catusaccadhamma, Dhammapatividdhasatta, Voice Hearer, Noble Truth, Arya Satyas, Avijjanivaranasutta, Catusaccabhisambodha, Catusaccabyakarana, Catusaccapatisamyutta.
Relevant text
Search found 142 books and stories containing Four noble truths, The four noble truths; (plurals include: Four noble truthses, The four noble truthses). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Four Noble Truths And Dependent Origination (by Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi)
The View From the Center (by Ajahn Amaro)
The Four Noble Truths (by Ajahn Sumedho)
Introduction < [Chapter 3 - The Third Noble Truth]
The Four Noble Truths (by Kensur Lobsang Chojor)
Philosophy of language in the Five Nikayas (by K.T.S. Sarao)
6.3. The Four Noble Truths < [Chapter 3 - Language and Meaning as Reflected in the Five Nikāyas]
1. General View < [Chapter 6 - Summary and Conclusions]
6. Sammādiṭṭhi and Language Comprehension < [Chapter 4 - Philosophy of Language in the Five Nikāyas]
Mahayana Buddhism and Early Advaita Vedanta (Study) (by Asokan N.)