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)