Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Benares in the Deer Park at Isipatana. There he addressed the group of five monks:

“Monks, these two extremes are not to be practiced by one who has gone forth. Which two?

That which is devoted to sensual pleasure with reference to sensual objects: base, vulgar, common, ignoble, unprofitable; and that which is devoted to self-affliction: painful, ignoble, unprofitable.

Avoiding both of these extremes, the Tathāgata has awakened to the Middle Way, which gives rise to vision, gives rise to knowledge, and leads to peace, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to Nibbāna.

And what is that Middle Way awakened to by the Tathāgata that gives rise to vision, gives rise to knowledge, and leads to peace, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to Nibbāna?

Precisely this Noble Eightfold Path:

• Right View
• Right Resolve
• Right Speech
• Right Action
• Right Livelihood
• Right Effort
• Right Mindfulness
• Right Concentration.

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The Noble Truth of Suffering

“Now this, monks, is the noble truth of suffering:

Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, death is suffering;
association with what is displeasing is suffering;
separation from what is pleasing is suffering;
not getting what one wants is suffering.

In short, the five aggregates subject to clinging are suffering.

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The Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering

“And this, monks, is the noble truth of the origin of suffering:

It is this craving which leads to renewed existence, accompanied by delight and lust, seeking delight here and there.

That is:

• craving for sensual pleasure
• craving for becoming
• craving for non-becoming.

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The Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering

“And this, monks, is the noble truth of the cessation of suffering:

It is the remainderless fading away and cessation of that very craving, its abandoning and relinquishing, freedom from it, non-attachment.

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The Noble Truth of the Path

“And this, monks, is the noble truth of the path leading to the cessation of suffering:

It is precisely this Noble Eightfold Path:

Right View
Right Resolve
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration.

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The Twelvefold Knowledge

“So long, monks, as my knowledge and vision of these Four Noble Truths as they actually are—with their three phases and twelve aspects—was not thoroughly purified, I did not claim to have awakened to the unsurpassed perfect enlightenment in this world.

But when my knowledge and vision of these Four Noble Truths as they actually are—with their three phases and twelve aspects—was fully purified, then I claimed to have awakened to the unsurpassed perfect enlightenment.

Knowledge and vision arose in me:

‘Unshakable is the liberation of my mind.
This is my last birth.
There is now no further becoming.’”

Source: Saṁyutta Nikāya 56.11
Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato
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