The Buddha teaches the four noble truths regarding interior sense fields—suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the practice leading to its cessation.

SN 56.14 Interior Sense Fields

“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, ariyasaccāni. Katamāni cattāri? Dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ, dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ, dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ, dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ? ‘Cha ajjhattikāni āyatanānī’tissa vacanīyaṁ. Katamāni cha? Cakkhāyatanaṁ …pe… manāyatanaṁ idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ? Yāyaṁ taṇhā ponobbhavikā nandirāgasahagatā tatratatrābhinandinī, seyyathidaṁkāmataṇhā, bhavataṇhā, vibhavataṇhā idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ? Yo tassāyeva taṇhāya asesavirāganirodho cāgo paṭinissaggo mutti anālayo idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ? Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri ariyasaccāni.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti.

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Cattārimāni, bhikkhave, ariyasaccāni.

“Mendicants, there are these four noble truths.

Katamāni cattāri?

What four?

Dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ, dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ, dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ, dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ.

The noble truths of suffering, the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ?

And what is the noble truth of suffering?

‘Cha ajjhattikāni āyatanānī’tissa vacanīyaṁ.

You should say: ‘The six interior sense fields’.

Katamāni cha?

What six?

Cakkhāyatanaṁ …pe… manāyatanaṁ

The sense fields of the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and mind.

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ.

This is called the noble truth of suffering.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ?

And what is the noble truth of the origin of suffering? …

Yāyaṁ taṇhā ponobbhavikā nandirāgasahagatā tatratatrābhinandinī, seyyathidaṁkāmataṇhā, bhavataṇhā, vibhavataṇhā

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ?

the cessation of suffering? …

Yo tassāyeva taṇhāya asesavirāganirodho cāgo paṭinissaggo mutti anālayo

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ?

the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering?

Ayameva ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, seyyathidaṁ

It is simply this noble eightfold path …

sammādiṭṭhi …pe… sammāsamādhi

idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, cattāri ariyasaccāni.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yogo karaṇīyo …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yogo karaṇīyo”ti.

That’s why you should practice meditation …”

Catutthaṁ.

Topics & Qualities:

Cultivation

Cultivation

The active practice of 'bringing into being' wholesome states. It is the deliberate nurturing of the bright state of mind.

Also known as: development, improvement, meditation, nurturing, growth
Pāli: bhāvanā
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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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Jhana

Jhana

An abiding with a steady, collected awareness that is attained through seclusion from the five hindrances and unwholesome mental states. When supported by right view, a jhāna can be a basis for the wearing away of taints and directing the mind toward the vision of Nibbāna.

Also known as: meditation, undistracted awareness, absorption, mental absorption
Pāli: jhāna, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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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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Last updated on July 27, 2026