The Buddha's teachings can be divided broadly into three main parts
- The Three Signs of Beings
- The Four Noble Truths
- The Eightfold Path
The Three Signs of Beings :
The Three Signs of Being that the Buddha taught are the three basic characteristics common to all living things:
1. Impermanence. Everything in life is ever changing.
2. Nothing in life is perfect. There is unsatisfactoriness in life.
3. There is no permanent self. What we take with us to our next birth is our life force which he called Karma. This Karma depends on the way in which we lead our lives in this birth. If we lead a good life it will be Good Karma and vice versa.
The Four Noble Truths :
1. Suffering exists.
There is suffering in life and life is suffering. This includes pain, illness, old age, and eventually death. There are psychological suffering also like aloneness, frustration, boredom, apprehension, shame, disappointment and annoyance.
2. There is a cause for suffering.
There is also an origin for this suffering. This suffering is caused by desire conditioned by ignorance of the real character of things.
3. There is an end to suffering.
Suffering can be conquered and happiness attained; true happiness and gratification are achievable.
4. The means to end suffering is to follow the Eightfold Path.
The end of suffering can be achieved by adhering the Eightfold Path.