The Four Noble Truths & the Twelve Insights

Intro

Introduction

The Four Noble Truths & the Twelve Insights offer a profound framework for understanding and overcoming suffering. The Four Noble Truths lay out the nature of suffering, its cause, its cessation, and the path leading to its end. The Twelve Insights deepen this understanding through direct contemplation and realization. Together, they guide practitioners toward wisdom, compassion, and liberation.

Dharma_Wheel


The Dharma Wheel representing The Eightfold Path

The Four Noble Truths & the Twelve Insights

First Insight
There is suffering.
Second Insight
Suffering should be understood.
Third Insight
Suffering has been understood.
Fourth Insight
The origin of suffering is craving (tanha).
Fifth Insight
Craving should be abandoned.
Sixth Insight
Craving has been abandoned.
Seventh Insight
There is the ending of suffering.
Eighth Insight
The ending of suffering should be realized.
Ninth Insight
The ending of suffering has been realized.
Tenth Insight
It is The Noble Eightfold Path.
Eleventh Insight
This Noble Truth should be penetrated by cultivating the path.
Twelfth Insight
This Noble Truth has been penetrated by cultivating the path.

Practice Resources

Books

Dancing With Life: Buddhist Insights for Finding Meaning and Joy in the Face of Suffering by Phillip Moffitt – Link

The Four Noble Truths by Ajahn Sumedho – Link

The Noble Eightfold Path: Way to the End of Suffering by Bhikkhu Bodhi – Link

Kamma and the End of Kamma by Ajahn Succito – Link

What the Buddha Taught by Rahula – Link

In the Buddha’s Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon by Bhikkhu Bodhi – Link

Suttas

Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion: Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (SN 56:11) – Link

Weekly Teachings by Phillip Moffit

52 weekly teachings for the Dancing with Life book – Link

Seattle Insight
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