In this Dhamma talk, Bhikkhu Dhammānanda explores the Buddha’s most fundamental teaching: The Four Noble Truths. Using the classic simile of the elephant’s footprint—into which all other footprints fit—the talk explains how all of the Buddha’s teachings are contained within this single framework.

The discussion clarifies the original Pali term ‘Dukkha,’ moving beyond the simple translation of “suffering” to include the concepts of imperfection and unsatisfactoriness. It traces the origin of these states through the 12 links of Dependent Origination and, most importantly, highlights the Third and Fourth Noble Truths: the optimistic reality that there is a way to transcend suffering entirely through the Noble Eightfold Path.

Topics covered in this talk:
• The Elephant’s Footprint: Why this is the core framework of Buddhism.
• The First Truth: Understanding the full spectrum of Dukkha (from birth to subtle mental conditioning).
• The Second Truth: How ignorance and craving drive the cycle of becoming (Dependent Origination).
• The Third Truth: The possibility of Cessation (Nirodha).
• The Fourth Truth: A detailed breakdown of the Noble Eightfold Path, including Right Perspective, Right Action, and Right Samadhi.
• Meditation: Developing Clarity and the factors of Jhana (absorption).

Free Dhamma Resources:
📖 Download the book ‘Paramattha’ for free: https://highermindart.info

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Timestamps

00:00 Intro
01:14 Overview
05:09 Detailed Exposition of the Four
Noble Truths
05:23 The First Noble Truth
12:10 The Second Noble Truth — The Origin of Suffering
15:59 Contact / Impressions
16:18 Feelings
20:14 The Third Noble Truth – Transcendence
20:40 The Fourth Noble Truth – The Path
20:57 Noble Perspective
23:09 Noble Thinking
24:05 Noble Speech
24:37 Noble Action
25:24 Noble Living / Livelihood
26:34 Noble Effort
27:38 Noble Clarity / Mindfulness
30:15 Noble Samādhi
36:29 Ending