Buddha believed peoples suffering was the result of people's selfish desires. These desires must be eliminated and by living ones life in accordance to the rules of Dharma this could be achieved. Once the selfish desires had been eliminated the person would achieve a state of Nirvana.

The deliverance from the life of suffering was captured in the Four Noble Truths. Each truth is outlined in this article.

The first Noble Truth is "the universality of suffering". Buddha indicated every person's life is filled with suffering. Suffering starts at birth and continues through life as we age, become ill, are disassociated from loved ones, and when we don't get what we want. The suffering continues until we achieve deliverance.

The second Noble Truth is "the origin of suffering", which is the result of false desires related to clinging to the impermanent world. The constant quest for immortality only serves to add to the human suffering.

The third Noble Truth is "the overcoming of suffering", wherein any false desires of a person cause suffering, the person must learn to suppress, abandon or reject these desires to nullify the effects of suffering. Buddha also professed that ignoring the path to deliverance and the delusions of humans that there is a permanent self is the primary cause of human suffering.

The fourth Noble Truth is "the way leading to the suppression of suffering", wherein the noble eightfold path, which is a sacred path with eight branches. The branches have been named the right aspirations, the right speech, the right conduct or action, the right livelihood, the right effort or endeavour, the right mind control or concentration, and the right mindfulness. Buddha indicated the importance of each of these branches is that none can be lived out in succession or isolation from one another. Each represents a different dimension in the "total way of life".

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