Four Noble Truths
The Four Noble Truths are the foundation of Buddhism. If someone were required to sum up Buddhism in 100 words or less, this is what would be most useful.
The Lord Buddha gave us the teaching on the Four Noble Truths in about 528 BC in the Deer Park at Sarnath in Northern India. This teaching was known as the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutra, or the "First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma".
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These are the Four Noble Truths as laid down by our teacher, Lord Buddha, and they form the foundation for Buddhist practice.
The first noble truth, is the truth of suffering. The Buddha explains that life in samsara (the ego's world of maya, or illusion) contains the seeds of suffering.
The second noble truth, is the truth of the origin of suffering. The origin of suffering is craving. craving for sensual desires, craving for being, craving for non-being, craving for more, better, etc.
The third noble truth, is the truth of the cessation of suffering. It says quite simply that suffering caused by craving can be understood, penetrated, and overcome.
The fourth noble truth, is the truth of the path which leads to the cessation of suffering. Namely, the Eightfold Path. This is the path which, if followed and practiced, can lead us to salvation in this very lifetime.