1. Life means suffering. Inevitably, we have to endure physical suffering such as pain, sickness, injury, tiredness, old age, and eventually death; and we have to endure psychological suffering like sadness, fear, frustration, disappointment, and depression. Although there are different degrees of suffering and there are also positive experiences in life that we perceive as the opposite of suffering, such as comfort and happiness, life in its totality is imperfect and incomplete, because our world is subject to impermanence. This means we are never able to keep permanently what we strive for, and just as happy moments pass by us; we ourselves and our loved ones will pass away one day, too.

2. The origin of suffering is attachment. Craving and clinging…..because the objects of our attachment are transient, their loss is inevitable, thus suffering will necessarily follow.

3. The cessation of suffering is attainable. The means that suffering can be overcome by human activity, simply by removing the cause of suffering.

4. The path to the cessation to suffering. There is a path to end suffering…a gradual path of self-improvement. It is detailed in the Eightfold path. It is believed that the path to end suffering can extend over many lifetimes. It is a middle ground between extreme self-indulgence and excessive self-mortification.