Four Noble Truths

The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path are the basic revelations of the Buddha about life, the universe, and everything. The Truths are four observations about life and suffering that explicitly prompt the Eightfold Path, which lists moral and behavioral ideals to end the root causes of suffering. Together, these form the most basic core of Buddhism, summarized as the "Middle Way" between decadence and aesceticism (self-deprivation and/or abuse).

The Eightfold Path is similar in structure to the Ten Commandments, but way more universally applicable because they do not necessarily claim origins in a higher power, nor do they require a higher power to enforce morality. The Noble Truths explain it very clearly: follow this moral path if you want to end suffering, in yourself and others. Also, this stuff was figured out 400 years before Jesus, who in some ways preached similar stuff. Unlike with Jesus, however, people who claim to follow Buddhism actually try to follow Buddha's teachings, like, by meditating on their own thoughts and seriously avoiding unnecessary killing.

The Four Noble Truths are commonly summarized as follows:
 * 1) Life is suffering.
 * 2) Suffering is caused by desire.
 * 3) To end suffering, end desire.
 * 4) To end desire, follow the Eightfold Path.

The Eightfold Path, then, is given:
 * 1) Right view
 * 2) Right intention
 * 3) Right speech
 * 4) Right action
 * 5) Right livelihood
 * 6) Right effort
 * 7) Right mindfulness
 * 8) Right concentration

All of these tenets require extensive clarification and study to follow properly, as even in 400 BCE they knew that no self-help program could work via a quick fix.