Siṃsapāvana Sutta

And what have I taught? 'This is stress': This is what I have taught. 'This is the origination of stress': This is what I have taught. 'This is the cessation of stress': This is what I have taught.' This is the path of practice leading to the cessation of stress': This is what I have taught.

This is what the Buddha stated in regards to what he taught - in essence there is stress (suffering or dukkha) and there is a cessation or end to this stress. That is all.  Everything else he taught was in service to this end.    The first noble truth-There is stress,  the second is the cause - craving. The third - cessation is possible.  The fourth, the path to the end is available.  The entire Noble Eightfold Path is about attaining the cessastion of stress or dukkha.