The Word of the Buddha The Four Noble Truths
Penetrating the four truths ends the long wandering. The Buddha’s own awakening was that penetration, brought to completion.
“It is because of misunderstanding and not penetrating the Four Noble Truths that both you and I have wandered and undergone this journey of cyclic existence for a long time. What four? It is because of misunderstanding and not penetrating the noble truth of suffering that both you and I have wandered and undergone this journey of cyclic existence for a long time. It is because of misunderstanding and not penetrating the noble truth of the arising of suffering that both you and I have wandered and undergone this journey of cyclic existence for a long time. It is because of misunderstanding and not penetrating the noble truth of the cessation of suffering that both you and I have wandered and undergone this journey of cyclic existence for a long time. It is because of misunderstanding and not penetrating the noble truth of the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering that both you and I have wandered and undergone this journey of cyclic existence for a long time. But now, the noble truth of suffering has been understood and penetrated, the noble truth of the arising of suffering has been understood and penetrated, the noble truth of the cessation of suffering has been understood and penetrated, and the noble truth of the way of practice leading to the cessation of suffering has been understood and penetrated; the craving for existence is severed, the conduit to existence is completely exhausted; there is now no more renewed existence.”
As long as my wisdom and vision regarding these Four Noble Truths in their three phases and twelve aspects was not fully purified, I did not claim to have achieved the unsurpassed perfect awakening in this world with its deities, Māras, Brahmā, among this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, kings and commoners.
But when my wisdom and vision regarding these four noble truths in their three phases and twelve aspects was fully purified, then I claimed to have achieved the unsurpassed perfect awakening in this world with its deities, Māras, Brahmā, among this generation with its ascetics and brahmins, kings and commoners.
Then, it occurred to me: ‘The Dhamma I have attained is profound, hard to perceive, difficult to comprehend, tranquil, sublime, beyond the realm of conjecture, subtle, to be experienced by the wise.’ But this generation delights in attachment, is devoted to attachment, and is pleased with attachment. For a generation that delights in attachment, is devoted to attachment and is pleased with attachment, this fact is difficult to see - that is, the general law of conditionality and dependent co-arising. And this fact too is difficult to see - that is, the stilling of all intentional constructs, the relinquishing of all acquisitions, wearing away of craving, fading of desire, cessation, Nibbāna. If I were to teach the Dhamma and others did not understand me, it would be wearying and troublesome for me.’
Last updated on October 20, 2026