Twelve Steps and the Four Noble Truths

It is also possible to look upon the 12 steps as containing the four noble truths and eightfold path:

• There is suffering (Step 1)
• Suffering is caused by cravings (Step 2)
• There is an escape from cravings (Step 2)
• The escape from cravings is the noble eightfold path (Step 3)

The noble eightfold path contains the rest of the steps:

• Right view (Step 4)
• Right intention (Steps 5, 6, and 7)
• Right speech
• Right action (Steps 8 and 9)
• Right livelihood
• Right effort (Step 10)
• Right mindfulness (Step 11)
• Right concentration (Step 12)