Four Truths

Four Truths (bden pa bzhi)

The four sublime truths (Skt. caturāryasatya) expounded by Śākyamuni Buddha in the context of the first turning of the wheel of the sacred doctrine comprise: 1) the truth of suffering (duḥkhasatya) which permeates all cyclic existence; 2) the truth of the cause of suffering (samudayasatya), identified as fundamental ignorance arising through the twelve links of dependent origination; 3) the truth of the cessation of suffering (nirodhasatya) consequent on the attainment of nirvāṇa; and 4) the truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering (mārgasatya) which has eight aspects: correct view, correct thought, correct speech, correct goal of activity, correct livlihood, correct effort, correct mindfulness, and correct meditative stability. GD (from the Glossary to Tibetan Elemental Divination Paintings)