In or about 550 B.C.E., the person who's come to be known as Shakyamuni Gotama Buddha, "the ennobling one" and "an enlightened one" (Shakyamuni Buddha--The Historical Buddha (learnreligions.com)), spread the Four Noble Truths after leaving the royal palace he was born in but then began to waste away due to imprudent ascetic practices.

The proceeding is, of my discernment, the best way of stating the truths of dukkha (the nature of sufferings), samudaya (causes of suffering), nirodha (avoiding, lessening, and preventing sufferings), and marga (the way to reduce suffering) in American English (Four Noble Truths - Wikipedia):

The Four Noble Truths:

 

  1. All people may experience sufferings. 《 including undue pain, emotional anguish, disgust, discomforts, and displeasure 》

  2. Causes of sufferings are discernible. 《 forces of nature, misconduct, loss, ignorance, lack, etcetera 》

  3. We can avoid, lessen, and prevent suffering. 《 such as by maintaining distance from a dimly lit back alley to safeguard against tempting another to steal 》

  4. Even unto utmost generality the way to do this is with virtuous conduct, walking the Eightfold Noble Path via ... 

    1. true comprehension, veritable understanding and gnosis (examples: comprehension of the Pythagorean Theorem in geometry, Marie Curie's (pictured to the right) preliminary understanding of radioactivity, and knowing what to do by a feeling communication)

    2. vigilant alertness and permitted only awareness (lifeguard duties)

    3. apropos focus and good concentration (studying for a school quiz)

    4. cautious movements and productive action (like looking left and right, and even again, before crossing a street and strategically planting herbs)

    5. compassionate communication (like Michelle Obama's speech upon education: Bing Videos)

    6. "critical"* thinking and beneficent ideation (like Albert Einstein discerning special relativity and Frieda Kahlo's ideas for artwork)

    7. muy buenos intent, samma sankappa (in Pali, a language Sakyamuni Gotama Buddha and some of the sangha accompanying him spoke who've all had  buenos intent to do good)

    8. for-the-best, virtuous efforts thereof 

 

1. true understandings and veritable knowing (such as of the Pythagorean Theorem in geometry and knowing one's parents burst out laughing after arguing about whether or not to skin potatoes in an old kitchen one day)

 

2. vigilant alertness and rightful awareness (such as upholding accepted duties as lifeguards)

3. apropos focus and good concentration (such as studying for a school quiz)

The Magic School Bus - Wikipedia

4. cautious action (such as looking left and right, and again even, before crossing a street)

 

5. compassionate communication (such as Michelle Obama's respectful kindness regarding education: Bing Videos)

 

6. critically* helpful thinking (her foray into radioactivity has furthered science immeasurably)

Marie Curie - Wikipedia

7. muy buenos intent, sama sankapa (very good intent en Español and Pali (the main language spoken by Sakyamuni Gotama Buddha and accompanying sangha); Frieda Kohla had such intent to inspire millions even today)

Frida Kahlo - Wikipedia

8. for-the-best efforts thereof (few could deny Mia Hamm having exerted herself virtuously upon many a soccer field)

Mia Hamm: Biography, Retired Soccer Player, Olympian

** The Dalai Lama, quoted in I Am, the movie:
Question for the Dalai Lama: “What’s the most important meditation we can do now?”
Answer: “Critical thinking, followed by action. Discern what your world is. Know the plot, the scenario of this human drama. And then figure out where your talents might fit in to make a better world.”

For some lagniappe, he also has said, "Once a year, go somewhere you've never been before."

This acronym may help you to remember our eightfold capabilities:

D Aw F A C T I E

D for sama diti, the Pali words used by the Buddha for true understandings, valid comprehension, and veritable knowing

Aw for awareness

F for focus

A for action

C for communication

T for thinking

I for intention

E for effort / exertion

 

* from Cambridge University: discombobulation refers to the fact of being made to feel confused or uncomfortable by something

e.g. "He showed his discombobulation by not being sure whether to sarcastically congratulate his rival or attack him."