The common core of all Buddhist schools is derived from the Four Noble Truths and dependent origination.
The four Noble Truths are:
1. The truth of unsatisfactoriness
2. The truth of the cause of unsatisfactoriness
3. The truth of the cessation of unsatisfactoriness
4. The truth of the way leading to the cessation of unsatisfactoriness
Dependent origination is often summarized by the Buddha as
"When this is, that is. From the arising of this comes the arising of that. When this isn't, that isn't. From the cessation of this comes the cessation of that."
Because these two aspects of the doctrine are deeply intertwined, we will place dependent origination within the framework of the second Noble Truth, the cause of unsatisfactoriness.
Because of the interrelationship however, it is inevitable that terms such as ‘conditions’, ‘conditionality’, ‘arising and passing away’, etc. will occur earlier. In that case it is always a reference to the principle of dependent origination.
We will now continue with an in-depth look at the four Noble Truths.
