What are four noble truths of Buddhism
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Answer:
In Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths (Sanskrit: catvāri āryasatyāni; Pali: cattāri ariyasaccāni; "The four Arya satyas") are "the truths of the Noble Ones", the truths or realities for the "spiritually worthy ones".[1][web 1][2] The truths are:
dukkha (suffering, incapable of satisfying, painful) is an innate characteristic of existence in the realm of samsara;[web 2][3][4]
samudaya (origin, arising) of this dukkha, which arises or "comes together" with taṇhā ("craving, desire or attachment");[web 3][5][6]
nirodha (cessation, ending) of this dukkha can be attained by the renouncement or letting go of this taṇhā;[7][8][9][10]
magga (path, Noble Eightfold Path) is the path leading to renouncement of tanha and cessation of dukkha.[11][12][13]
They are traditionally identified as the first teaching given by the Buddha,[note 1] and considered one of the most important teachings in Buddhism.[14]
The four truths appear in many grammatical forms in the ancient Buddhist texts,[15] and they have both a symbolic and a propositional function.[16] Symbolically, they represent the awakening and liberation of the Buddha, and of the potential for his followers to reach the same religious experience as him.[17] As propositions, the Four Truths are a conceptual framework that appear in the Pali canon and early Hybrid Sanskrit Buddhist scriptures.[18] They are a part of the broader "network of teachings"[19] (the "dhamma matrix"),[20] which have to be taken together.[19] They provide a conceptual framework for introducing and explaining Buddhist thought, which has to be personally understood or "experienced".[21][note 2]
As a proposition, the four truths defy an exact definition, but refer to and express the basic orientation of Buddhism:[22] unguarded sensory contact gives rise to craving and clinging to impermanent states and things,[23] which are dukkha,[24] "incapable of satisfying"[web 4] and painful.[23][25][26] This craving keeps us caught in samsara,[note 3] "wandering," usually interpreted as the endless cycle of repeated rebirth,[note 4] and the continued dukkha that comes with it.[note 5] There is a way to end this cycle,[28][note 6] namely by attaining nirvana, cessation of craving, whereafter rebirth and the accompanying dukkha will no longer arise again.[note 7][29] This can be accomplished by following the eightfold path,[note 1] confining our automatic responses to sensory contact by restraining oneself, cultivating discipline and wholesome states, and practicing mindfulness and dhyana (meditation).[30][31]
The function of the four truths, and their importance, developed over time and the Buddhist tradition slowly recognized them as the Buddha's first teaching.[32] This tradition was established when prajna, or "liberating insight", came to be regarded as liberating in itself,[33][34] instead of or in addition to the practice of dhyana.[33] This "liberating insight" gained a prominent place in the sutras, and the four truths came to represent this liberating insight, as a part of the enlightenment story of the Buddha