The four Noble Truths of Buddhism

The four noble truths combined with the eightfold path are the essence of Buddhism. Here are those noble truths:

1) Life means suffering
2) The origin of suffering is attachment
3) Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases
4) Freedom from suffering is possible by practicing the Eightfold Path

The fourth truths, is the path to the cessation of suffering. Suffering, Buddha teaches, can be minimized, if we base our lives on bettering them, and being self-aware. This path is a sort of self-improvement course to help you attain Nirvana—freedom from the cycle of birth and death. We don’t want to die; the only way to overcome death is to become one with everything.

“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”

—	Buddha http://www.buddhanet.net/wheel2.htm interactive tour of the buddhist wheel of life