1. The Four Noble Truths – Part One
The Human Condition
The Four Noble Truths – Part One

2. The Four Noble Truths These are the basis of all Buddhist teaching
These were alluded to in the Buddha’s first sermon (The Sermon at Benares)
Buddhists use a doctor analogy to explain them:
The Buddha is the doctor who makes the diagnosis that something is ‘wrong’ – Dukkha
The diagnosis of the cause of the illness is craving (tanha) – Samudaya
There is a cure; it is to achieve nibbana – Nirodha
The prescription is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path - Magga

3. The First Noble Truth - Dukkha
Also one of the Three Universal Truths / Marks of Existence
Means ‘unsatisfactoriness’
Idea that suffering is everywhere all the time – even if we think we are happy!
Caused by failure to understand anicca

4. Second Noble Truth - Samudaya
The cause of dukkha (the actual illness) is tanha (craving)
Because you do not understand anicca, you crave permanence and possessions
You want relationships to always be good, you want to never be ill, you always want money and possessions thinking they’ll make you happy forever, etc.
This is also a link with the Three Mental Poisons (or Three Fires): Greed, Hatred and Ignorance
All this craving makes you suffer: tanha causes dukkha
This is the Second Noble Truth of Samudaya
See Dhammapada (Cravings)