Buddhism is a vast ocean of wisdom, offering a clear path toward liberation. This guide presents a progressive, numerical approach to the fundamental teachings of the Dhamma, helping practitioners navigate the complexities of the Buddha’s teachings in an organized and practical manner.
The Tilakkhaṇa (Three Marks of Existence) are fundamental concepts in Buddhism that describe the nature of all conditioned phenomena – Anicca (Impermanence) , Dukkha (Suffering or Unsatisfactoriness), Anatta (Non-Self or No-Soul)
The Noble Eightfold Path (Ariya Aṭṭhaṅgika Magga) is the central teaching of Buddhism that leads to the cessation of suffering and the attainment of Nirvana. It is the fourth of the Four Noble Truths and was taught by the Buddha in many discourses, including the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (SN 56.11). It is the fourth of the Four Noble Truths and is divided into three categories: wisdom (prajñā), ethical conduct (śīla), and mental discipline (samādhi).
Dependent Origination (Pali: paṭicca-samuppāda, Sanskrit: pratītya-samutpāda) is a fundamental Buddhist teaching that explains the interconnected and conditioned nature of existence. It describes how all phenomena arise due to causes and conditions and how nothing exists independently or permanently.
The Gita speaks of renouncing desire (tyāga or vairāgya), but the Buddha went a step further by breaking down how desire works.
“If one mistakenly clings to an idea of “self,” the Buddha’s teaching helps dismantle that clinging. If one mistakenly sees only the changing world and ignores deeper awareness, the Gita helps remind of that unity.”
The Five Aggregates of Clinging (pañcupādānakkhandhā) are the five aspects of experience that we mistakenly identify as “self.” The Buddha taught that clinging to these aggregates is the cause of suffering (dukkha). These are mentioned in multiple suttas, including the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (SN 56.11) and Khandha Sutta (SN 22.48). This teaching is central to Buddhist psychology, showing that what we call “self” is just a combination of temporary, ever-changing processes. Understanding and seeing through this illusion is the key to liberation.
The Four Noble Truths were first taught by the Buddha in the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Pali: Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, meaning “The Discourse on Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion”). This sutta is found in the Saṃyutta Nikāya (SN 56.11) of the Sutta Pitaka in the Pali Canon. This is considered the first sermon of the Buddha, given to the five ascetics at the Deer Park in Sarnath after his enlightenment.