On the Four Noble Truths

The four noble truths were the Buddhas first statements to his first disciples on the essence of his awakening. Earlier he had made a statement, with no witnesses, saying that what he had discovered upon his awakening was luminous, utterly tranquil, peaceful, beyond elaboration, and inconceivable. Lama Yeshe Gyamtso gives an elegant presentation of the four noble truths, introducing several aspects of the Buddhist outlook, including the four seals, which are connected to the truth of suffering; the four mindfulnesses, which are the means through which you begin to abandon the cause of suffering; the four views, which are primarily views of cessation; and the four reliances, which are how to find a practical path. The teaching is both accessible to beginners and informative to long-standing practitioners.

Yeshe Gyamtso was trained in the traditional three-year retreat. Since then he has served as an interpreter for many eminent teachers including His Holiness the Seventeenth Karmapa. His publications include Precious Essence: The Inner Autobiography of Terchen Barway Dorje, The Vajra Garland & The Lotus Garden: Treasure Biographies of Padmakara and Vairochana, Chariot of the Fortunate: The Life of Yongey Mingyur Dorje Rinpoche, Garland of Jewels: The Eight Bodhisattvas by Ju Mipham Rinpoche, and the translation of The Hundred Tertons, by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye.