The Buddha’s First Teaching
When the Buddha became enlightened in Bodh Gaya more than 2,500 years ago, at first he didn’t want to teach. He thought the truth might be too deep or too hard for people to understand, and that most people would be too distracted by worldly pleasures to care. But according to the old texts, Brahma, the creator god, came and asked the Buddha to share his wisdom, since there were people who could benefit and also reach enlightenment. So, the Buddha gave his first teaching in Deer Park. This was about the Four Noble Truths, which are the base of the whole Buddhist path and remain the foundation of all Buddhist traditions today.
The first truth is that life always has dissatisfaction and suffering. Even when we are happy, that happiness doesn’t last forever, and it can turn into sadness at any moment. The second truth is that our suffering doesn’t really come from the outside world, but from our own attachments and ignorance of how things truly are. The third truth says that it is possible to end suffering completely. The fourth truth shows the path we can follow to reach freedom from all suffering.
The Buddha’s Teachings Are to End Suffering
In the Buddha’s time, all teachings were spoken and memorized. Only later were they written down in texts, now known as the Tripitaka (“Three Baskets”). Tradition says the Buddha gave 84,000 teachings to cure the 84,000 negative emotions people have. The number may be symbolic, but it shows how wide and deep his teachings are.
The Buddha didn’t care about abstract theories about the universe or the self. He avoided questions that didn’t help with real problems. Instead, like a doctor, he focused on the fact that people suffer and found a cure: the Dharma, his teachings. The Dharma is like medicine—it can heal us if we use it.
The Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha (the community of practitioners) are called the Three Jewels of refuge. But the Dharma itself is the true refuge. The Buddha shows us the way, and the Sangha supports us, but we ourselves must practice. No one can do it for us.
Qualities of the Dharma
The Dharma has many good qualities. Here are three main ones:
It suits all kinds of people. Buddhism looks different in places like Tibet, Japan, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, but the essence is the same and always aimed at freedom from suffering.
It is logical. Buddhism asks us to examine our minds and lives carefully, not to blindly believe in gods or dogmas. Even today, Buddhist teachers like the Dalai Lama work with scientists to explore ideas about the mind.
It goes to the root of all problems. Medicine like aspirin may remove pain temporarily, but the problem comes back. The Dharma is like a permanent cure, not just for one issue, but for all suffering.
Summary
The Buddha is like a wise doctor who understands suffering and gives the right medicine: the Dharma. But we must take the medicine ourselves by practicing. No one can do it for us. When we see how much Dharma helps us find peace and freedom from suffering, we will want to practice it happily—for our own benefit and for others.
