The Four Noble Truths are key to an understanding of Buddhism and the Buddha’s teaching. The first noble truth is suffering, the condition that all living beings experience in various forms. The cause of suffering is craving or selfish desire. However, there is a state which transcends suffering which the Buddha referred to as Nirvana, the third moble truth. The fourth noble truth is the Noble Eightfold Path, the Buddha’s teaching on the way to attain Nirvana.