Four Noble Truths
Begin by clearly seeing suffering, its causes, the possibility of ending it, and the path of practice.
Beginners
Buddhist basics for beginners
Buddhist basics are the foundational teachings a beginner should understand first: the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, cause and effect and karma, impermanence, non-self, dependent origination, Nirvana, taking refuge in the Three Jewels and the five precepts. This page gathers those ten teachings, each with a short sourced guide, so you learn a little but with a clear spine.
Foundations first, depth later
A lasting path begins with a few simple things practiced consistently.
5 minutes
Read a short Dharma idea and write down one sentence you want to remember.
5 minutes
Sit quietly with the breath or observe an emotion that is present.
1 deed
Do a kind action small enough to complete today.
Four points of support
Learn a little with a clear direction
Noble Eightfold Path
A path of living that includes right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration.
Mindfulness
Practice recognizing the body, emotions, and thoughts that are present without immediately being carried away by them.
Loving-kindness and compassion
Cultivate the ability to understand, love, and act more gently in very ordinary situations.
10 foundational teachings
Each item below opens a short guide with a direct answer, a practice and the source text in the library.
- 1.What are the Four Noble Truths?Four truths: suffering, its origin, its cessation and the path.
- 2.What is the Noble Eightfold Path?The eight factors of the path of practice, from right view to right concentration.
- 3.What is cause and effect?Results arise from conditions; this is not fate.
- 4.What is karmic result?Intentional action and its results, and how karma can be transformed.
- 5.What is impermanence?Everything that arises from conditions changes and ends.
- 6.What is non-self?There is no fixed self in the five aggregates.
- 7.What is dependent origination?Things arise in dependence on one another; the twelve links are one way to present it.
- 8.What is Nirvana?The going out of greed, hatred and delusion.
- 9.What is taking refuge in the Three Jewels?Taking the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha as the direction of one's life.
- 10.What are the Five Precepts?The five precepts of lay Buddhists, the ground of an ethical life.
Just starting? A three-step path: read the basics on this page, follow the order in the beginners' guide, then look at the online course when you want structured study. Buddhism for beginners · Study the Dharma online
Path
Study the Dharma every day
A 7-day rhythm for beginning with small lessons, small practices, and a good deed.
Scriptures
Bilingual Buddhist scriptures
Slowly read a Vietnamese-English passage to see the same Dharma idea through different layers of meaning.
Library
Open the scripture library
Explore discourses and topics through the paths available in Inti Dharma.
Frequently asked questions
Where should beginners start studying the Dharma?
You can begin with the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, mindfulness, and a small good deed each day. What matters is learning a little consistently, using clear sources, and bringing it into life.
Do I need to understand many terms before practicing?
No. Beginners can start with the breath, a short scripture passage, a small precept, and a concrete kind action.
How does Inti Dharma help with learning basic Buddhist teachings?
Inti Dharma brings together lessons, scriptures, and a daily Quest rhythm so students can read one Dharma idea, practice a little, and sustain it in daily life.
Start with a friend
Sign up for free to save your progress. You can then invite a friend to maintain a learning rhythm together.