Evaṁ me sutaṁ— ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā bārāṇasiyaṁ viharati isipatane migadāye. Tatra kho bhagavā bhikkhū āmantesi: “bhikkhavo”ti.
Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was staying in the Deer Park at Isipatana near Varanasi. There, the Blessed One addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus.”
“Bhadante”ti te bhikkhū bhagavato paccassosuṁ. Bhagavā etadavoca:
“Venerable sir,” the bhikkhus replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this:
“Tathāgatena, bhikkhave, arahatā sammāsambuddhena bārāṇasiyaṁ isipatane migadāye anuttaraṁ dhammacakkaṁ pavattitaṁ appaṭivattiyaṁ samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā devena vā mārena vā brahmunā vā kenaci vā lokasmiṁ, yadidaṁ— catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ ācikkhanā desanā paññāpanā paṭṭhapanā vivaraṇā vibhajanā uttānīkammaṁ. Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ?
“At Varanasi, bhikkhus, in the Deer Park at Isipatana, the |Tathāgata::one who has arrived at the truth, an epithet of a perfectly Awakened One [tathāgata]|, the |Arahant::a worthy one, a fully awakened being, epithet of the Buddha [arahant]|, the perfectly Awakened One, set in motion the unsurpassed wheel of |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|, which cannot be rolled back by any ascetic or brahmin, deity, |Māra::the ruler of the sensual realm, often depicted as a tempter who tries to obstruct beings from the path to liberation [māra]|, |Brahmā::God, the first deity to be born at the beginning of a new cosmic cycle and whose lifespan lasts for the entire cycle [brahmā]|, or anyone in the world—that is, the announcing, the pointing out, the describing, the putting forward, the revealing, the analysis, and the exposition on the Four Noble Truths. Of what four?
Dukkhassa ariyasaccassa ācikkhanā desanā paññāpanā paṭṭhapanā vivaraṇā vibhajanā uttānīkammaṁ, dukkhasamudayassa ariyasaccassa ācikkhanā desanā paññāpanā paṭṭhapanā vivaraṇā vibhajanā uttānīkammaṁ, dukkhanirodhassa ariyasaccassa ācikkhanā desanā paññāpanā paṭṭhapanā vivaraṇā vibhajanā uttānīkammaṁ, dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya ariyasaccassa ācikkhanā desanā paññāpanā paṭṭhapanā vivaraṇā vibhajanā uttānīkammaṁ.
1) The announcing, the pointing out, the describing, the putting forward, the revealing, the analysis, and the exposition on the noble truth of |suffering::discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering [dukkha]|; 2) the announcing, the pointing out, the describing, the putting forward, the revealing, the analysis, and the exposition on the noble truth of the |arising of suffering::source of stress, appearance of discomfort [dukkhasamudaya]|; 3) the announcing, ..., and the exposition on the noble truth of the |end of suffering::ending of discontentment, cessation of distress [dukkhanirodha]|; 4) the announcing, ..., and the exposition on the |way of practice leading to the end of suffering::i.e. the Noble Eightfold Path consisting of right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right collectedness [dukkhanirodhagāmī]|.
Tathāgatena, bhikkhave, arahatā sammāsambuddhena bārāṇasiyaṁ isipatane migadāye anuttaraṁ dhammacakkaṁ pavattitaṁ appaṭivattiyaṁ samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā devena vā mārena vā brahmunā vā kenaci vā lokasmiṁ, yadidaṁ— imesaṁ catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ ācikkhanā desanā paññāpanā paṭṭhapanā vivaraṇā vibhajanā uttānīkammaṁ.
At Varanasi, bhikkhus, in the Deer Park at Isipatana, the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the Fully Awakened One, set in motion the unsurpassed wheel of Dhamma, which cannot be rolled back by any ascetic or brahmin, deity, Māra, Brahmā, or anyone in the world—that is, the announcing, the pointing out, the describing, the putting forward, the revealing, the analysis, and the exposition on these Four Noble Truths.
Sevatha, bhikkhave, sāriputtamoggallāne; bhajatha, bhikkhave, sāriputtamoggallāne. Paṇḍitā bhikkhū anuggāhakā sabrahmacārīnaṁ. Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, janetā, evaṁ sāriputto; seyyathāpi jātassa āpādetā, evaṁ moggallāno. Sāriputto, bhikkhave, sotāpattiphale vineti, moggallāno uttamatthe. Sāriputto, bhikkhave, pahoti cattāri ariyasaccāni vitthārena ācikkhituṁ desetuṁ paññāpetuṁ paṭṭhapetuṁ vivarituṁ vibhajituṁ uttānīkātun”ti.
Associate with |Sāriputta::foremost disciple of the Buddha in great wisdom [sāriputta]| and |Moggallāna::foremost disciple of the Buddha in psychic power; lit. Moggallāna the great [moggallāna]|, bhikkhus; keep company with Sāriputta and Moggallāna. They are |wise::astute, intelligent, learned, skilled [paṇḍita]| bhikkhus who support their fellow spiritual practitioners. Bhikkhus, Sāriputta is like a mother, and Moggallāna is like one who brings up a child. Bhikkhus, Sāriputta |trains::instructs, educates, enjoins [vineti]| others to the fruit of entering the stream, and Moggallāna to the |ultimate goal::summum bonum; supreme goal; epithet of Nibbāna [uttamattha]|. Bhikkhus, Sāriputta is capable of explaining, teaching, describing, establishing, clarifying, analyzing, and fully expounding the Four Noble Truths in detail.”
Idamavoca bhagavā. Idaṁ vatvāna sugato uṭṭhāyāsanā vihāraṁ pāvisi.
The Blessed One said this. Having spoken thus, the Accomplished One rose from his seat and entered his dwelling.
Tatra kho āyasmā sāriputto acirapakkantassa bhagavato bhikkhū āmantesi: “āvuso bhikkhave”ti.
Then, not long after the Blessed One had departed, venerable Sāriputta addressed the bhikkhus: “Friends, bhikkhus!”
“Āvuso”ti kho te bhikkhū āyasmato sāriputtassa paccassosuṁ. Āyasmā sāriputto etadavoca:
“Friend,” those bhikkhus replied to the venerable Sāriputta. The venerable Sāriputta said this:
“Tathāgatena, āvuso, arahatā sammāsambuddhena bārāṇasiyaṁ isipatane migadāye anuttaraṁ dhammacakkaṁ pavattitaṁ appaṭivattiyaṁ samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā devena vā mārena vā brahmunā vā kenaci vā lokasmiṁ, yadidaṁ— catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ ācikkhanā desanā paññāpanā paṭṭhapanā vivaraṇā vibhajanā uttānīkammaṁ. Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ?
“At Varanasi, friends, in the Deer Park at Isipatana, the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, set in motion the unsurpassed wheel of Dhamma, which cannot be rolled back by any ascetic or brahmin, deity, Māra, Brahmā, or anyone in the world—that is, the announcing, the pointing out, the describing, the putting forward, the revealing, the analysis, and the exposition on the Four Noble Truths. Of what four?
Dukkhassa ariyasaccassa ācikkhanā desanā paññāpanā paṭṭhapanā vivaraṇā vibhajanā uttānīkammaṁ, dukkhasamudayassa ariyasaccassa ācikkhanā desanā paññāpanā paṭṭhapanā vivaraṇā vibhajanā uttānīkammaṁ, dukkhanirodhassa ariyasaccassa ācikkhanā desanā paññāpanā paṭṭhapanā vivaraṇā vibhajanā uttānīkammaṁ, dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya ariyasaccassa ācikkhanā desanā paññāpanā paṭṭhapanā vivaraṇā vibhajanā uttānīkammaṁ.
1) The announcing, the pointing out, the describing, the putting forward, the revealing, the analysis, and the exposition on the noble truth of suffering; 2) the announcing, the pointing out, the describing, the putting forward, the revealing, the analysis, and the exposition on the noble truth of the arising of suffering; 3) the announcing, ..., and the exposition on the noble truth of the end of suffering; 4) the announcing, ..., and the exposition on the way of practice leading to the end of suffering.
Katamañcāvuso, dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ? Jātipi dukkhā, jarāpi dukkhā, maraṇampi dukkhaṁ, sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsāpi dukkhā, yampicchaṁ na labhati tampi dukkhaṁ; saṅkhittena pañcupādānakkhandhā dukkhā.
And what, friends, is the noble truth of suffering? Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, death is suffering, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair are suffering, not getting what one desires is suffering—concisely, the |five aggregates that are subject to clinging::the physical and mental heaps that are appropriated, grasped at, or taken as self; the fivefold collection of form, feeling, perception, formations, and consciousness bound up with attachment [pañca + upādānakkhandha]| are suffering.
Katamā cāvuso, jāti? Yā tesaṁ tesaṁ sattānaṁ tamhi tamhi sattanikāye jāti sañjāti okkanti abhinibbatti khandhānaṁ pātubhāvo āyatanānaṁ paṭilābho, ayaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘jāti’.
And what, friends, is birth? The birth of the various beings into the various orders of beings, their arising, |descent [into the womb]::conception [okkanti]|, |production::becoming [abhinibbatti]|, appearance of the aggregates, and the acquisition of the sense bases — this, friends, is called birth.
Katamā cāvuso, jarā? Yā tesaṁ tesaṁ sattānaṁ tamhi tamhi sattanikāye jarā jīraṇatā khaṇḍiccaṁ pāliccaṁ valittacatā āyuno saṁhāni indriyānaṁ paripāko, ayaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘jarā’.
And what, friends, is aging? Aging of the various beings in the various orders of beings is the growing old, deterioration, frailty, graying, wrinkling of the skin, decline of lifespan, and weakening of faculties — this, friends, is called aging.
Katamañcāvuso, maraṇaṁ? Yā tesaṁ tesaṁ sattānaṁ tamhā tamhā sattanikāyā cuti cavanatā bhedo antaradhānaṁ maccu maraṇaṁ kālaṅkiriyā khandhānaṁ bhedo kaḷevarassa nikkhepo jīvitindriyassupacchedo, idaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘maraṇaṁ’.
And what, friends, is death? The passing away, dissolution, disintegration, the disappearance, dying, death, completion of time, the breaking up of the aggregates, the laying down of the body, the cutting off of the life faculty of various beings in the various orders of beings — this, friends, is called death.
Katamo cāvuso, soko? Yo kho, āvuso, aññataraññatarena byasanena samannāgatassa aññataraññatarena dukkhadhammena phuṭṭhassa soko socanā socitattaṁ antosoko antoparisoko, ayaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘soko’.
And what, friends, is |sorrow::grief, sadness [soka]|? Whatever sorrow arises in one afflicted by some kind of misfortune, struck by some form of painful experience—the grief, the act of grieving, sadness, heartache, deep inner sorrow — this, friends, is called sorrow.
Katamo cāvuso, paridevo? Yo kho, āvuso, aññataraññatarena byasanena samannāgatassa aññataraññatarena dukkhadhammena phuṭṭhassa ādevo paridevo ādevanā paridevanā ādevitattaṁ paridevitattaṁ, ayaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘paridevo’.
And what, friends, is |lamentation::wailing, crying [parideva]|? Whatever lamentation arises in one afflicted by some kind of misfortune, struck by some form of painful experience—the crying, the mourning, the lamenting, the wailing, the state of mourning and lamentation — this, friends, is called lamentation.
Katamañcāvuso, dukkhaṁ? Yaṁ kho, āvuso, kāyikaṁ dukkhaṁ kāyikaṁ asātaṁ kāyasamphassajaṁ dukkhaṁ asātaṁ vedayitaṁ, idaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘dukkhaṁ’.
And what, friends, is |pain::unease, discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentment [dukkha]|? Bodily discomfort, unease born of bodily contact, a disagreeable felt experience born of bodily contact — this, friends, is called pain.
Katamañcāvuso, domanassaṁ? Yaṁ kho, āvuso, cetasikaṁ dukkhaṁ cetasikaṁ asātaṁ manosamphassajaṁ dukkhaṁ asātaṁ vedayitaṁ, idaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘domanassaṁ’.
And what, friends, is [mental] |distress::dejection, depression, unhappiness, grief, negative state of mind [domanassa]|? Mental pain, unease born of mental contact, a disagreeable felt experience born of mental contact — this, friends, is called distress.
Katamo cāvuso, upāyāso? Yo kho, āvuso, aññataraññatarena byasanena samannāgatassa aññataraññatarena dukkhadhammena phuṭṭhassa āyāso upāyāso āyāsitattaṁ upāyāsitattaṁ, ayaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘upāyāso’.
And what, friends, is |despair::trouble, difficulty, affliction [upāyāsa]|? Whatever despair arises in one afflicted by some kind of misfortune, struck by some form of painful experience—the trouble, the despair, the affliction, the adversity — this, friends, is called despair.
Katamañcāvuso, yampicchaṁ na labhati tampi dukkhaṁ? Jātidhammānaṁ, āvuso, sattānaṁ evaṁ icchā uppajjati: ‘aho vata mayaṁ na jātidhammā assāma; na ca vata no jāti āgaccheyyā’ti. Na kho panetaṁ icchāya pattabbaṁ. Idampi: ‘yampicchaṁ na labhati tampi dukkhaṁ’. Jarādhammānaṁ, āvuso, sattānaṁ …pe… byādhidhammānaṁ, āvuso, sattānaṁ … maraṇadhammānaṁ, āvuso, sattānaṁ … sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsadhammānaṁ, āvuso, sattānaṁ evaṁ icchā uppajjati: ‘aho vata mayaṁ na sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsadhammā assāma; na ca vata no sokaparidevadukkhadomanassupāyāsā āgaccheyyun’ti. Na kho panetaṁ icchāya pattabbaṁ. Idampi: ‘yampicchaṁ na labhati tampi dukkhaṁ’.
And what, friends, is ‘not getting what one desires is suffering’? To beings subject to birth, friends, there comes the desire: ‘Oh, if only we were not subject to birth! That birth would not come to us!’ But such is not achievable by desire alone. This, friends, is called ‘not getting what one desires is suffering’. To beings subject to aging, friends, ... to beings subject to illness, friends, ... to beings subject to death, friends, ... to beings subject to sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair, there comes the desire: ‘Oh, if only we were not subject to sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair! That sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, and despair would not come to us!’ But such is not achievable by desire alone. This too, friends, is called ‘not getting what one desires is suffering’.
Katame cāvuso, saṅkhittena pañcupādānakkhandhā dukkhā? Seyyathidaṁ—rūpupādānakkhandho, vedanupādānakkhandho, saññupādānakkhandho, saṅkhārupādānakkhandho, viññāṇupādānakkhandho. Ime vuccantāvuso: ‘saṅkhittena pañcupādānakkhandhā dukkhā’. Idaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ’.
And what, friends, concisely are the five aggregates that are subject to clinging and suffering? They are as follows: 1) The |form::materiality, material existence, experience of the material world, i.e. encompassing both one’s body and external objects, whether near or far, gross or subtle, deficient or refined; first of the five aggregates [rūpa]| aggregate subject to clinging; 2) the |feeling::pleasant, neutral, or painful sensation, the felt experience, second of the five aggregates [vedanā]| aggregate subject to clinging, 3) the |perception::The mental process of recognizing and giving meaning to experience. It marks things by signs, labels, or associations drawn from memory and the field of contact. Perception shapes how one experiences the world; third of the five aggregates [sañña]| aggregate subject to clinging, 4) the |intentional constructs::intentions, volitions, choices; mental and bodily volitional activities; thought formations and constructed experiences (including proliferative tendencies); kamma-producing processes; fourth of the five aggregates [saṅkhāra]| aggregate subject to clinging, and 5) the |consciousness::quality of awareness — distinctive knowing that arises in dependence on the meeting of eye and form, ear and sound, nose and odor, tongue and taste, body and tangible object, mind and mind object; fifth of the five aggregates [viññāṇa]| aggregate subject to clinging. These, friends, concisely are the five aggregates that are subject to clinging and suffering. This, friends, is called the noble truth of suffering.
Katamañcāvuso, dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ? Yāyaṁ taṇhā ponobbhavikā nandīrāgasahagatā tatratatrābhinandinī, seyyathidaṁ— kāmataṇhā bhavataṇhā vibhavataṇhā, idaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ’.
And what, friends, is the noble truth of the arising of suffering? It is this craving that leads to renewed |existence::continued conditional existence, the karmically conditioned mode of being that leads to future rebirth [bhava]|, accompanied by |delight::pleasure, enjoyment, relish [nandi]| and |passion::intense desire, strong emotion, infatuation, obsession, lust [rāga]|, i.e. |seeking delight here and there::thoroughly enjoying this and that [tatratatrābhinandī]|—namely, craving for sensual pleasure, |craving for becoming::craving for continued existence, desire for a stable identity, attachment to a future self, attainment, or experience [bhavataṇhā]|, and |craving for non-becoming::A craving to end suffering through erasure of current experience or identity, e.g. “This self is unbearable; I want out.” [vibhavataṇhā]| — this, friends, is called the noble truth of the arising of suffering.
Katamañcāvuso, dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ? Yo tassāyeva taṇhāya asesavirāganirodho cāgo paṭinissaggo mutti anālayo, idaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ’.
And what, friends, is the noble truth of the end of suffering? It is the |complete fading away and ending::remainderless dispassion and cessation [asesavirāganirodha]| of that very craving, giving up of it, |relinquishing of it::abandoning of it, complete giving up of it [paṭinissagga]|, freedom from it, and |non-reliance on::non-attachment to [anālaya]| it — this, friends, is called the noble truth of the end of suffering.
Katamañcāvuso, dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ? Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ— sammādiṭṭhi, sammāsaṅkappo, sammāvācā, sammākammanto, sammāājīvo, sammāvāyāmo, sammāsati, sammāsamādhi.
And what, friends, is the noble truth of the way of practice leading to the end of suffering? It is this very Noble Eightfold Path, namely: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and |right collectedness::stability of mind, stillness of mind, mental composure [samādhi]|.
Katamā cāvuso, sammādiṭṭhi? Yaṁ kho, āvuso, dukkhe ñāṇaṁ, dukkhasamudaye ñāṇaṁ, dukkhanirodhe ñāṇaṁ, dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya ñāṇaṁ, ayaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘sammādiṭṭhi’.
And what, friends, is right view? It is the |insight::understanding, knowing [ñāṇa]| of suffering, the wisdom of the arising of suffering, the wisdom of the end of suffering, and the wisdom of the way of practice leading to the end of suffering — this, friends, is called right view.
Katamo cāvuso, sammāsaṅkappo? Nekkhammasaṅkappo, abyāpādasaṅkappo, avihiṁsāsaṅkappo, ayaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘sammāsaṅkappo’.
And what, friends, is right intention? An |intention rooted in renunciation::thought related to giving up of sensual pleasure [nekkhammasaṅkappa]|, an |intention rooted in non-ill-will::thought related to benevolence, kindliness [abyāpādasaṅkappa]|, and an |intention rooted in not-harming::thought related to non-cruelty [avihiṃsāsaṅkappa]| — this, friends, is called right intention.
Katamā cāvuso, sammāvācā? Musāvādā veramaṇī, pisuṇāya vācāya veramaṇī, pharusāya vācāya veramaṇī, samphappalāpā veramaṇī, ayaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘sammāvācā’.
And what, friends, is right speech? Abstention from |false speech::lying, deliberately speaking falsehood [musāvāda]|, abstention from |divisive speech::defamatory words, slanderous speech, speech intended to create division [pisuṇāya + vācā]|, abstention from |harsh speech::speech that is rough, rude, or unkind [pharusa + vācā]|, abstention from |frivolous chatter::meaningless talk, gossip, idle speech [samphappalāpa]| — this, friends, is called right intention.
Katamo cāvuso, sammākammanto? Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī, adinnādānā veramaṇī, kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇī, ayaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘sammākammanto’.
And what, friends, is right action? Abstention from |killing living beings::taking life, destruction of life [pāṇātipāta]|, abstention from |taking what is not given::theft, stealing, taking what is not offered [adinnādāna]|, abstention from |sexual misconduct::unchastity [abrahmacariya]| — this, friends, is called right action.
Katamo cāvuso, sammāājīvo? Idhāvuso, ariyasāvako micchāājīvaṁ pahāya sammāājīvena jīvikaṁ kappeti, ayaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘sammāājīvo’.
And what, friends, is right livelihood? Here, friends, a disciple of the Noble Ones, having abandoned wrong livelihood, earns a living by right livelihood — this, friends, is called right livelihood.
Katamo cāvuso, sammāvāyāmo? Idhāvuso, bhikkhu anuppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ anuppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati, uppannānaṁ pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ pahānāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati, anuppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ uppādāya chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati, uppannānaṁ kusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ ṭhitiyā asammosāya bhiyyobhāvāya vepullāya bhāvanāya pāripūriyā chandaṁ janeti vāyamati vīriyaṁ ārabhati cittaṁ paggaṇhāti padahati, ayaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘sammāvāyāmo’.
And what, friends, is right effort? 1) Here, friends, a bhikkhu produces |a wholesome motivation::an aspiration, a goal, an interest, an objective [chanda]|, |exerts effort::engages in intentional effort [vāyamati]|, |initiates and sustains energy::the initial spark of motivation and action along with the persistence needed to follow through, even as challenges arise [vīriya + ārabhati]|, |uplifts::befriends and holds it up [paggaṇhāti]| the mind, and strives to prevent the arising of unarisen |harmful::injurious, destructive, bad, or evil [pāpaka]| and |unwholesome::unhealthy, unskillful, unbeneficial, or karmically unprofitable [akusala]| qualities; 2) He produces a wholesome motivation, exerts effort, initiates and sustains energy, uplifts the mind, and strives for the |giving up::letting go, abandoning, removing [pahāna]| of arisen harmful and unwholesome qualities; 3) He produces a wholesome motivation, exerts effort, initiates and sustains energy, uplifts the mind, and strives for the |arising::appearance, coming into being [uppāda]| of unarisen |wholesome::healthy, beneficial, useful [kusala]| qualities; 4) He produces a wholesome motivation, exerts effort, initiates and sustains energy, uplifts the mind, and strives for the |stability::establishment, constancy, continuity [ṭhiti]| and |retention::non-confusion and non-decline [asammosa]|, |growth::further development, multiplication [bhiyyobhāva]| and |full development::expansion and maturity [vepulla]| of arisen wholesome qualities — this, friends, is called right effort.
Katamā cāvuso, sammāsati? Idhāvuso, bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ. Vedanāsu vedanānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ. Citte cittānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ. Dhammesu dhammānupassī viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṁ, ayaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘sammāsati’.
And what, friends, is right mindfulness? 1) Here, friends, a bhikkhu dwells observing the body in and of itself, with continuous effort, fully aware and being present, having removed |craving and distress::greediness and dissatisfaction, wanting and unhappiness, craving and aversion [abhijjhā + domanassa]| with regard to the world; 2) he dwells observing the felt experience in and of itself, with continuous effort, fully aware and being present, having removed craving and distress with regard to the world; 3) he dwells observing the mind in and of itself, with continuous effort, fully aware and being present, having removed craving and distress with regard to the world; 4) he dwells observing the |mental qualities::characteristics, traits, and tendencies of the mind, shaped by repeated actions and sustained attention, guided by particular ways of understanding; they may be wholesome or unwholesome, bright or dark [dhammā]| in and of themselves, with continuous effort, fully aware and being present, having removed craving and distress with regard to the world — this, friends, is called right mindfulness.
Katamo cāvuso, sammāsamādhi? Idhāvuso, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṁ savicāraṁ vivekajaṁ pītisukhaṁ paṭhamaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati, vitakkavicārānaṁ vūpasamā ajjhattaṁ sampasādanaṁ cetaso ekodibhāvaṁ avitakkaṁ avicāraṁ samādhijaṁ pītisukhaṁ dutiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati, pītiyā ca virāgā upekkhako ca viharati sato ca sampajāno sukhañca kāyena paṭisaṁvedeti yaṁ taṁ ariyā ācikkhanti ‘upekkhako satimā sukhavihārī’ti, tatiyaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati, sukhassa ca pahānā dukkhassa ca pahānā pubbeva somanassadomanassānaṁ atthaṅgamā adukkhamasukhaṁ upekkhāsatipārisuddhiṁ catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati, ayaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘sammāsamādhi’.
And what, friends, is right collectedness? 1) Here, friends, a bhikkhu, quite secluded from sensual pleasures and unwholesome mental states, enters and dwells in the first jhāna, which is |accompanied by reflection::with thinking [savitakka]| and |examination::with investigation, evaluation [savicāra]|, |born of seclusion::secluded from the defilements [vivekaja]|, and |imbued with joyful pleasure::imbued with joy and happiness, with delight and ease, sometimes experienced as an intense joy or pleasure, rapture [pītisukha]|; 2) with the |settling::calming, conciliation, subsiding [vūpasama]| of reflection and examination, the bhikkhu enters and dwells in the second jhāna, characterized by internal |tranquility::calming, settling, confidence [sampasādana]| and |unification::singleness, integration [ekodibhāva]| of mind, free from reflection and examination, |born of collectedness::born from a stable mind [samādhija]|, and imbued with joyful pleasure; 3) with the fading away of joyful pleasure, the bhikkhu dwells |equanimous::mental poised, mentally balanced, equanimous, non-reactive, disregarding [upekkhaka]|, |mindful and fully aware::attentive and completely comprehending [sata + sampajāna]|, experiencing |pleasure::comfort, contentedness, happiness, ease [sukha]| with the body. He enters and dwells in the third jhāna, which the Noble Ones describe as, ‘one who dwells equanimous, mindful, and at ease;’ 4) with the abandoning of pleasure and |discontentment::discomfort, unpleasantness, something unsatisfactory, stress [dukkha]|, and with the settling down of |joy and sorrow::craving and aversion, pleasure and displeasure, satisfaction and dissatisfaction, gladness and dejection, positive state of mind and negative state of mind [somanassadomanassa]|, the bhikkhu enters and dwells in the fourth jhāna, which is characterized by purification of mindfulness through |equanimity::mental poise, mental balance, equipoise, non-reactivity, composure [upekkhā]|, experiencing a feeling which is neither-painful-nor-pleasant — this, is called right collectedness.
Idaṁ vuccatāvuso: ‘dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ’.
This, friends, is called the noble truth of the way of practice leading to the end of suffering.
Tathāgatenāvuso, arahatā sammāsambuddhena bārāṇasiyaṁ isipatane migadāye anuttaraṁ dhammacakkaṁ pavattitaṁ appaṭivattiyaṁ samaṇena vā brāhmaṇena vā devena vā mārena vā brahmunā vā kenaci vā lokasmiṁ, yadidaṁ— imesaṁ catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ ācikkhanā desanā paññāpanā paṭṭhapanā vivaraṇā vibhajanā uttānīkamman”ti.
Friends, at Varanasi, in the Deer Park at Isipatana, the Tathāgata, the Arahant, the perfectly Awakened One, set in motion the unsurpassed wheel of Dhamma, which cannot be rolled back by any ascetic or brahmin, deity, Māra, Brahmā, or anyone in the world—that is, the announcing, the pointing out, the describing, the putting forward, the revealing, the analysis, and the exposition on these four noble truths.”
Idamavoca āyasmā sāriputto. Attamanā te bhikkhū āyasmato sāriputtassa bhāsitaṁ abhinandunti.
This was said by the venerable Sāriputta. The bhikkhus rejoiced in and approved of venerable Sāriputta’s words.