The Discourse that Set the Dhamma Wheel Rolling

(Dhammacakkappavattanasuttaö)

(The Discourse that Set the Dhamma Wheel Rolling)
(from Vinaya Mahàvagga 1)

Edited & Translated by Ànandajoti Bhikkhu

...atha kho Bhagavà paåcavaggiye bhikkhù àmantesi: ...then the Gracious One addressed the group-of-five monks, saying:

"Dve me bhikkhave, antà pabbajitena na sevitabbà, "There are these two extremes, O monks, that one who has gone forth ought not to practices,

yo càyaö: kàmesu kàmasukhallikànuyogo,which is this: devotion to the pleasure and happiness in sense desire,

hìno, gammo, pothujjaniko, anariyo, anatthasaöhito; which is low, vulgar, worldly, ignoble, and not connected with the goal (unbeneficial);

yo càyaö: attakilamathànuyogo,and this: devotion to self-mortification,

dukkho, anariyo, anatthasaöhito. which is painful, ignoble, and not connected with the goal (unbeneficial).

Ete te bhikkhave ubho ante anupagamma, majjhimà paåipadàNot having approached either of these two extremes, monks, the middle practice

Tathàgatena abhisambuddhà, cakkhukaraäì, åàäakaraäì,was awakened to by the Realised One, which produces vision, produces knowledge,

upasamàya abhiååàya Sambodhàya Nibbànàya saövattati. and which leads to peace, deep knowledge, Complete Awakening, and Nibbàna.

Katamà ca sà bhikkhave majjhimà paåipadà, Now what is this middle practice, monks,

Tathàgatena abhisambuddhà, cakkhukaraäì, åàäakaraäì, that was awakened to by the Realised One, which produces vision, produces knowledge,

upasamàya abhiååàya Sambodhàya Nibbànàya saövattati?and which leads to peace, deep knowledge, Complete Awakening, and Nibbàna?

Ayam-eva ariyo aååhaægiko maggo, seyyathìdam:It is this noble path with eight factors, as follows:

I. sammàdiååhi right view

ii. sammàsaækapporight thought

iii. sammàvàcà right speech

iv. sammàkammanto right action

v. sammààjìvo right livelihood

vi. sammàvàyàmo right endeavour

vii. sammàsati right mindfulness

viii. sammàsamàdhi. right concentration.

Ayaö kho sà bhikkhave majjhimà paåipadà, This is the middle practice, monks,

Tathàgatena abhisambuddhà, cakkhukaraäì, åàäakaraäì, that was awakened to by the Realised One, which produces vision, produces knowledge,

upasamàya abhiååàya Sambodhàya Nibbànàya saövattati.and which leads to peace, deep knowledge, Complete Awakening, and Nibbàna.

The Four Noble Truths

I. Idaö kho pana bhikkhave dukkhaö ariya-saccaö:
Now this, monks, is the noble truth of suffering:

jàti pi dukkhàbirth is suffering

jarà pi dukkhà alsoold age is suffering

vyàdhi pi dukkho alsosickness is suffering

maraäam-pi dukkhaö alsodeath is suffering

appiyehi sampayogo dukkho being joined to what is not dear is suffering

piyehi vippayogo dukkho being seperated from what is dear is suffering

yam-p' icchaö na labhati tam-pi dukkhaö alsonot to obtain what one longs for is suffering

saækhittena paåc' upàdànakkhandhà dukkhà. in brief, the five constituents (of mind and body) that are attached to are suffering.

ii. Idaö kho pana bhikkhave dukkhasamudayaöariya-saccaö: Now this, monks, is the noble truth of the arising of suffering:

yà yaö taähà ponobhavikà, it is that craving which leads to renewed existence,

nandiràgasahagatà, tatratatràbhinandinì, seyyathìdaö: which is connected with enjoyment and passion, greatly enjoying this and that, as follows:

kàmataähà craving for sense pleasures

bhavataähà craving for existence

vibhavataähà. craving for non-existence.

iii. Idaö kho pana bhikkhave dukkhanirodhaöariya-saccaö: Now this, monks, is the noble truth of the cessation of suffering:

yo tassà yeva taähàya asesaviràganirodho -it is the complete fading away and cessation without remainder of that craving -

càgo, paåinissaggo, mutti, anàlayo. liberation, letting go, release, and non-adherence.

iv. Idaö kho pana bhikkhave, Now this, monks,

dukkhanirodhagàminì paåipadà ariya-saccaö: is the noble truth of the practice going to the end of suffering:

Ayam-eva ariyo aååhaægiko maggo, seyyathìdam:It is this noble path with eight factors, as follows:

I. sammàdiååhi right view

ii. sammàsaækapporight thought

iii. sammàvàcà right speech

iv. sammàkammanto right action

v. sammààjìvo right livelihood

vi. sammàvàyàmo right endeavour

vii. sammàsati right mindfulness

viii. sammàsamàdhi. right concentration.

Realisation

I. "Idaö dukkhaö ariya-saccan"-ti - "This is the noble truth of suffering" -

me bhikkhave pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu to me, monks, regarding these previously unheard-of things

cakkhuö udapàdi, åàäaö udapàdi, vision arose, knowledge arose,