The Buddha teaches the four noble truths regarding remembering (1st)—suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the practice leading to its cessation.

SN 56.15 Remembering (1st)

“Dhāretha no tumhe, bhikkhave, mayā cattāri ariyasaccāni desitānī”ti? Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

“ahaṁ kho, bhante, dhāremi bhagavatā cattāri ariyasaccāni desitānī”ti.

“Yathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, dhāresi mayā cattāri ariyasaccāni desitānī”ti?

“Dukkhaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā paṭhamaṁ ariyasaccaṁ desitaṁ dhāremi; dukkhasamudayaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā dutiyaṁ ariyasaccaṁ desitaṁ dhāremi; dukkhanirodhaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā tatiyaṁ ariyasaccaṁ desitaṁ dhāremi; dukkhanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā catutthaṁ ariyasaccaṁ desitaṁ dhāremi. Evaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, dhāremi bhagavatā cattāri ariyasaccāni desitānī”ti.

“Sādhu sādhu, bhikkhu. Sādhu kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, dhāresi mayā cattāri ariyasaccāni desitānīti. Dukkhaṁ kho, bhikkhu, mayā paṭhamaṁ ariyasaccaṁ desitaṁ, tathā naṁ dhārehi; dukkhasamudayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, mayā dutiyaṁ ariyasaccaṁ desitaṁ, tathā naṁ dhārehi; dukkhanirodhaṁ kho, bhikkhu, mayā tatiyaṁ ariyasaccaṁ desitaṁ, tathā naṁ dhārehi; dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā kho, bhikkhu, mayā catutthaṁ ariyasaccaṁ desitaṁ, tathā naṁ dhārehi. Evaṁ kho, bhikkhu, dhārehi mayā cattāri ariyasaccāni desitānīti.

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

Pañcamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Dhāretha no tumhe, bhikkhave, mayā cattāri ariyasaccāni desitānī”ti?

“Mendicants, do you remember the four noble truths that I taught?”

Evaṁ vutte, aññataro bhikkhu bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

When he said this, one of the mendicants said to the Buddha:

“ahaṁ kho, bhante, dhāremi bhagavatā cattāri ariyasaccāni desitānī”ti.

“I do, sir.”

“Yathā kathaṁ pana tvaṁ, bhikkhu, dhāresi mayā cattāri ariyasaccāni desitānī”ti?

“How so, mendicant?”

“Dukkhaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā paṭhamaṁ ariyasaccaṁ desitaṁ dhāremi;

“Sir, I remember that suffering is the first noble truth you’ve taught;

dukkhasamudayaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā dutiyaṁ ariyasaccaṁ desitaṁ dhāremi;

the origin of suffering is the second;

dukkhanirodhaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā tatiyaṁ ariyasaccaṁ desitaṁ dhāremi;

the cessation of suffering is the third;

dukkhanirodhagāminiṁ paṭipadaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā catutthaṁ ariyasaccaṁ desitaṁ dhāremi.

and the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering is the fourth.

Evaṁ khvāhaṁ, bhante, dhāremi bhagavatā cattāri ariyasaccāni desitānī”ti.

That’s how I remember the four noble truths as you’ve taught them.”

“Sādhu sādhu, bhikkhu.

“Good, good, mendicant!

Sādhu kho tvaṁ, bhikkhu, dhāresi mayā cattāri ariyasaccāni desitānīti.

It’s good that you remember the four noble truths as I’ve taught them.

Dukkhaṁ kho, bhikkhu, mayā paṭhamaṁ ariyasaccaṁ desitaṁ, tathā naṁ dhārehi;

Suffering is the first noble truth I’ve taught, and that’s how you should remember it.

dukkhasamudayaṁ kho, bhikkhu, mayā dutiyaṁ ariyasaccaṁ desitaṁ, tathā naṁ dhārehi;

The origin of suffering is the second;

dukkhanirodhaṁ kho, bhikkhu, mayā tatiyaṁ ariyasaccaṁ desitaṁ, tathā naṁ dhārehi;

the cessation of suffering is the third;

dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā kho, bhikkhu, mayā catutthaṁ ariyasaccaṁ desitaṁ, tathā naṁ dhārehi.

and the practice that leads to the cessation of suffering is the fourth.

Evaṁ kho, bhikkhu, dhārehi mayā cattāri ariyasaccāni desitānīti.

That’s how you should remember the four noble truths as I’ve taught them.

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

That’s why you should practice meditation …”

Pañcamaṁ.

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
View all discourses →
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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Wholesome

Wholesome

Conducive to or suggestive of good health and mental well-being.

Also known as: blameless, skillful, beneficial, good, useful, healthy, nourishing, sustaining
Pāli: kusala
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Last updated on July 27, 2026