HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION root of all the others This ignorance concerns not only a lack of wisdom in how we act, but the basic ignorance behind how we ordinarily perceive the whole of existence and constantly become caught by our clinging to the idea of our own egos and of the outer world as solid and lasting Because there is no end to our actions, there can be no end to our continuously taking rebirth in the cycle of conditioned existence Only when we cease to act through ignorance can this cycle be broken, as shown by the third truth which expounds the cessation of suffering and freedom from conditioned existence The fourth truth explains the way through which this can be achieved This essentially means, on the one hand, the accumulation of positive actions, such as venerating and making offerings to the Buddha, Dharma (his teaching), and Sangha (the community of practitioners), and practising charity and so on; and on the other hand, the practice of meditation, which can directly dispel the root ignorance which is the cause of suffering A practitioner who follows this path with only his own liberation in mind can attain a high degree of realization and become an Arhat (one who has overcome the negative emotions) But this is not full enlightenment Only those who have as their motivation the good and ultimate enlightenment of all other beings can attain final Buddhahood Such practitioners, who follow the path of the Great Vehicle based on compassion, are known as Bodhisattvas A Bodhisattva who moreover practises the profound and skilful teachings of the Vajrayana is able to become fully enlightened in a very short time During his lifetime the Buddha created a community of monks and nuns who became the core for upholding and continuing the teachings This did not, however, exclude lay men and women as serious followers