The Basic Teachings of the Buddha

This chapter discusses the essence of the Buddha's teaching, including dependent co-origination, and the four noble truths. The idea of dependent co-origination articulates how causation is understood in Buddhism. It basically deals with causes and conditions, depending on which reality exists and evolves, and consequently what things happen. The four noble truths include the noble truth of dukkha (suffering), that of arising of dukkha, that of cessation of dukkha, and that of the path leading to the cessation of dukkha. Importantly, everything the Buddha said has something to do with these four truths. This is because the Buddha saw dukkha as the most immediate and crucial issue with which human beings have to deal. The chapter also looks at the three trainings, the three characteristics of existence, and mindfulness meditation.