The Buddha teaches the four noble truths regarding the realized ones—suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the practice leading to its cessation.

SN 56.12 The Realized Ones

“‘Idaṁ dukkhaṁ ariyasaccan’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi. ‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ pariññeyyan’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe …pe… udapādi. ‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ pariññātan’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

‘Idaṁ dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccan’ti bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi. ‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ pahātabban’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe …pe… udapādi. ‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ pahīnan’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

‘Idaṁ dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccan’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi. ‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ sacchikātabban’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe …pe… udapādi. ‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ sacchikatan’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

‘Idaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccan’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi. ‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ bhāvetabban’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe …pe… udapādi. ‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ bhāvitan’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādī”ti.

Dutiyaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“‘Idaṁ dukkhaṁ ariyasaccan’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

“‘This is the noble truth of suffering.’ Such was the vision, knowledge, wisdom, realization, and light that arose in the Realized Ones regarding teachings not learned before from another.

‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ pariññeyyan’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe …pe… udapādi.

‘This noble truth of suffering should be completely understood.’ …

‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ pariññātan’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

‘This noble truth of suffering has been completely understood.’ …

‘Idaṁ dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccan’ti bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

‘This is the noble truth of the origin of suffering.’ …

‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ pahātabban’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe …pe… udapādi.

‘This noble truth of the origin of suffering should be given up.’ …

‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ pahīnan’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

‘This noble truth of the origin of suffering has been given up.’ …

‘Idaṁ dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccan’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

‘This is the noble truth of the cessation of suffering.’ …

‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ sacchikātabban’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe …pe… udapādi.

‘This noble truth of the cessation of suffering should be realized.’ …

‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ sacchikatan’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

‘This noble truth of the cessation of suffering has been realized.’ …

‘Idaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccan’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādi.

‘This is the noble truth of the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering.’ …

‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ bhāvetabban’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe …pe… udapādi.

‘This noble truth of the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering should be developed.’ …

‘Taṁ kho panidaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ bhāvitan’ti, bhikkhave, tathāgatānaṁ pubbe ananussutesu dhammesu cakkhuṁ udapādi, ñāṇaṁ udapādi, paññā udapādi, vijjā udapādi, āloko udapādī”ti.

‘This noble truth of the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering has been developed.’ Such was the vision, knowledge, wisdom, realization, and light that arose in the Realized Ones regarding teachings not learned before from another.”

Dutiyaṁ.

Qualities:

Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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Learning

Learning

One who has broad learning and retention of the Dhamma, gained through hearing, reciting, and carefully investigating the teachings. Such learning penetrates their meaning through discernment and serves as a strong support for practice.

Also known as: having knowledge, well studied
Pāli: bahussuta, suta
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Truth

Truth

The quality of what is real and dependable; speech and conduct aligned with reality, honesty, and integrity.

Also known as: accuracy, reliability, verifiability
Pāli: sacca
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Vision

Vision

The corrective clarity that clearly sees into the true nature of things as they actually are.

Also known as: knowledge and vision, seeing clearly, seeing things as they are, seeing the truth, seeing the dhamma
Pāli: dassana, ñāṇadassana, yathābhūtañāṇadassana
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita, asammūḷha
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Last updated on July 27, 2026