THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
The essence of Buddhism is contained in the Four Noble Truths - that all life involves suffering; that such suffering comes from desire or greed for things or people; that this suffering can stop if people learn to live without desire; and that this enlightenment, or detachment from worldly things, can be achieved only by following the Eight-Fold Path, or Middle Way, a philosophy that avoids extremes and emphasizes good deeds.
Because doing good is thought to bring the believer closer, stage by stage, to nirvana, all Buddhists try to keep the Five Precepts, or rules of conduct - not to lie, steal, kill (even insects), take intoxicants (such as alchohol or drugs), or commit sexual misconduct.