The point Buddha tried to make is that all the joyful moments that one experiences are only ephemeral. These ephemeral moments ultimately lie on a background of sadness. On the other hand, the second truth explores the exact reasons that cause this sadness. Buddha approached this question by locating the origin of human sadness in the subjective ego instead of external factors (ibid.). Buddha argues that the sadness one experiences essentially comes from the reality he or she is creating. More specifically, the suffering comes from our Tanha, which means the desires and cravings we are creating (ibid.). In fact, only the things and people we have an emotional attachment to have the ability to make us suffer and the bigger this emotional attachment is, the more we can potentially be affected by suffering. Furthermore, Buddha argues that the reason we are attached to other persons is because we are attached to ourselves: we are attached to an artificial, "self," that is both created and reinforced by our own desires and cravings (Burke, pp. 61-62). To this suffering, Buddha formulates the remedy in the third statement. In fact, in order to suppress our self-centered desires and consequently, the suffering that is bonded to it, Buddha advises to oppress this artificial Self and attain a state of complete selflessness, called Nirvana. This means that one needs to realize, both in thoughts and in deeds, that our ego is only artificial, in the sense that it does not objectively exist (ibid.) This is the only way to cease any desire, which is the cause that is at the heart of our suffering. Now, how is it possible to achieve such a state? Buddha gives a specific eightfold path to follow, called Marga. He stresses that anyone can attain Nirvana by following this path conscientiously (ibid.). The eight elements of this guide can be classified into three major categories. The first one, called Wisdom, mentions that one needs first to fully comprehend the first three Noble Truths and to develop and incorporate thoughts of non-violence and love.
