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The Four Noble Truths
Sanskrit: Catvari arya-satyani
Pali: Catu ariya-sacca
The Four Noble Truths comprise the essence of the Buddha’s Teaching and
form the basis on which – in the course of its long history – Buddhism
with its diversity of tendencies and schools has based its evolution.
‘Noble’ has the meaning of ‘exalted, not-common’. With this term the
Buddha tried to break through the social structure of privileged castes.
‘Noble’ has nothing to do with status or descent; noble is one who strives
towards the cessation of suffering. The notion has been broadened to
‘generally applicable, universal’.
The Four Noble Truths are formulated as follows:
· Suffering: duhkham (dukkha)
· The Cause or Origin of Suffering: duhkhasamudayah
· The Cessation of Suffering: duhkhanirodhah
· The Path which leads towards the Cessation of Suffering:
duhkhanirodhahgamini pratipat (-margah = P
magga)
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