Faith, effort, mindfulness, concentration and wisdom build on each other in a natural development. Understanding their relationship gives us a map for how the meditation process unfolds.
Although there is suffering - the First Noble Truth, the Buddha has taught that wisely processing our pain leads to greater faith, compassion and, eventually, the end of suffering.
generosity-- the heart of the Buddha's path is natural to life. When we look carefully, we see the multiple levels of dana layered inside the Buddha's main teachings.
Truthfulness was the one quality the Bodhisattva possessed through all his previous lifetimes before his enlightenment. Telling the truth to oneself and others is a direct source of happiness and is the guiding principle for the spiritual journey.
