Discourse on the Four Noble Truths

The Four Noble Truths

155. Then the Bhagava said to the Venerable Ananda, "Come, Ananda, let us go to Koti village."

The Venerable Ananda respectfully assenting, the Bhagava, accompanied by a large number of bhikkhus, went to Koti village and dwelt there. During that time, the Bhagava addressed the bhikkhus thus:

Bhikkhus, it is through not having proper understanding and penetrative comprehension of the Four Noble Truths¹ that I as well as yourselves have had to go incessantly through this long stretch (of samsara, round of existences), that we have had to go through one life after another continuously.

What are the Four Noble Truths that are not known properly, penetratingly? Bhikkhus, it is through not having proper understanding and penetrating comprehension of the Noble Truth of Dukkha, (Dukkha Ariya Sacca), that I as well as yourselves have had to go incessantly through this long stretch of samsara, (round of existences), that we have had to go through one life after another continuously.

Bhikkhus, it is through not having proper understanding and penetrating comprehension of the Noble Truth of the Origin of Dukkha, (Dukkha Samudaya Ariya Sacca), that I as well as yourselves have had to go incessantly through this long stretch of samsara, that we have had to go through one life after another continuously.

Bhikkhus, it is through not having proper understanding and penetrating comprehension of the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Dukkha, (Dukkha Nirodha Ariya Sacca), that I as well as yourself have had to go incessantly through this long stretch of samsara, that we have had to go through one life after another continuously.

Bhikkhus, it is through not having proper understanding and penetrating comprehension of the Noble Truth of the Way to the cessation of Dukkha, (Dukkha Nirodha-Gamini Patipada Ariya Sacca), that I as well as yourselves have had to go incessantly through this long stretch of samsara, that we have had to go through one life after another continuously.

Bhikkhus, I have properly understood and penetratingly comprehended the Noble Truth of Dukkha. I have properly understood and penetratingly comprehended the Noble Truth of the Origin of Dukkha. I have properly understood and penetratingly comprehended the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Dukkha. I have properly understood and penetratingly comprehended the Noble Truth of the Way to the Cessation of Dukkha. The craving for existence, bhavatanha, has been cut off without any vestige remaining. The bhavatanha, which is like a rope that drags one to renewed existence, is exhausted. Now, there will be no more rebirth.

After the Bhagava had spoken the above words, he further said these verses:

"Existence after existence has had to be gone through in the long stretch of samsara because of lack of understanding of the Four Noble Truths as they really are. I have now perceived the Noble Truths. The bhavatanha, craving for existence, which is like a rope dragging one to renewed existence, has been rooted out. The root of dukkha has been cut off without any vestige remaining. Now, there will be no more rebirth."

While the Bhagava was thus sojourning at that Koti village, he repeatedly expounded to the bhikkhus this very discourse:

"Such is sila, morality; such is samadhi, concentration of mind; such is panna, wisdom. Samadhi, when based upon sila, is rich in result and of great effect. Panna when based upon samadhi, is rich in result and of great effect. The mind, when developed through panna, is thoroughly liberated from the asavas, taints, namely, kamasava, bhavasava and avijjasava