The three (or four) seals of the Law, the law of dependent origination, and the Four Noble Truths express basic Buddhist views, all of which are closely related. From the theoretical viewpoint, the law of dependent origination, which describes life and society as they actually exist, is central. The focal point of religious practice, on the other hand, is the Four Noble Truths, which embody not only the logical truth of dependent origination but also moral values and the path of action whereby the Buddhist ideal can be attained.

The insight gained through an understanding of the law of dependent origination makes it possible to see the true condition of the world. Once the vast gap separating the actual world and humanity from the ideal is realized, the individual begins to yearn to abandon the flawed and sullied and to seek perfection. Realistic observation of life inspires the pursuit of the ideal once a person has come to see that actuality and the ideal, though apparently different, are not two totally separate things after all. To inspire this realization is the function of faith.
Basic Buddhist Concepts