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The Core of the Buddha’s Teachings
Whether it’s Mahayana, Theravada or Vajrayana, the 4 Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold Path are core tenets for all traditions of Buddhism.
The Four Noble Truths cover the teachings, and the primary response it elicits is understanding.
The Noble Eightfold Path covers the side of discipline and the primary response it calls for is practice.
In the structure of the teaching, these two principles lock together into an indivisible unity called the dhamma-vinaya, the doctrine-and-discipline, or, in brief, the Dhamma.
The last of the Four Noble Truths, ‘The Path to the Cessation of Suffering‘, is the Noble Eightfold Path, while the first factor of the Noble Eightfold Path, ‘Right View‘, is the understanding of the Four Noble Truths.
Thus the two principles penetrate and include one another.
Having the Right View guides the practice. Right View is like having the right map, while the other seven are like having a good vehicle.