The Buddha teaches the four noble truths regarding a hundred spears, urging mendicants to practice for direct knowledge of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

SN 56.35 A Hundred Spears

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso vassasatāyuko vassasatajīvī. Tamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyya: ‘ehambho purisa, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ taṁ sattisatena hanissanti, majjhanhikasamayaṁ sattisatena hanissanti, sāyanhasamayaṁ sattisatena hanissanti. So kho tvaṁ, ambho purisa, divase divase tīhi tīhi sattisatehi haññamāno vassasatāyuko vassasatajīvī vassasatassa accayena anabhisametāni cattāri ariyasaccāni abhisamessasī’ti.

Atthavasikena, bhikkhave, kulaputtena alaṁ upagantuṁ.

Taṁ kissa hetu? Anamataggoyaṁ, bhikkhave, saṁsāro; pubbā koṭi nappaññāyati sattippahārānaṁ asippahārānaṁ usuppahārānaṁ pharasuppahārānaṁ. Evañcetaṁ, bhikkhave, assa. Na kho panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, saha dukkhena, saha domanassena catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ abhisamayaṁ vadāmi; api cāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sahāva sukhena, sahāva somanassena catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ abhisamayaṁ vadāmi. Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ? Dukkhassa ariyasaccassa …pe… dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya ariyasaccassa.

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

Pañcamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, puriso vassasatāyuko vassasatajīvī.

“Mendicants, suppose there was a man with a lifespan of a hundred years.

Tamenaṁ evaṁ vadeyya:

And someone might say to him:

‘ehambho purisa, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ taṁ sattisatena hanissanti, majjhanhikasamayaṁ sattisatena hanissanti, sāyanhasamayaṁ sattisatena hanissanti.

‘Come now, my man, they’ll strike you with a hundred spears in the morning, at midday, and in the late afternoon.

So kho tvaṁ, ambho purisa, divase divase tīhi tīhi sattisatehi haññamāno vassasatāyuko vassasatajīvī vassasatassa accayena anabhisametāni cattāri ariyasaccāni abhisamessasī’ti.

And you’ll live for a hundred years being struck with three hundred spears every day. But when a hundred years have passed, you will comprehend the four noble truths for the first time.’

Atthavasikena, bhikkhave, kulaputtena alaṁ upagantuṁ.

For an earnest gentleman this is sufficient reason to submit.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Anamataggoyaṁ, bhikkhave, saṁsāro;

This transmigration has no known beginning.

pubbā koṭi nappaññāyati sattippahārānaṁ asippahārānaṁ usuppahārānaṁ pharasuppahārānaṁ.

No first point is found of blows by spears, swords, arrows, and axes.

Evañcetaṁ, bhikkhave, assa.

Now this may be so.

Na kho panāhaṁ, bhikkhave, saha dukkhena, saha domanassena catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ abhisamayaṁ vadāmi;

But the comprehension of the four noble truths doesn’t come with pain or sadness, I say.

api cāhaṁ, bhikkhave, sahāva sukhena, sahāva somanassena catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ abhisamayaṁ vadāmi.

Rather, the comprehension of the four noble truths comes only with pleasure and happiness, I say.

Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ?

What four?

Dukkhassa ariyasaccassa …pe… dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya ariyasaccassa.

The noble truths of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, ‘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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Displeasure

Displeasure

A feeling of mental pain or a disagreeable feeling or unease born of mental contact.

Also known as: mental pain, mental distress, melancholy, sadness
Pāli: domanassa
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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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Happiness

Happiness

Bodily ease and comfort; a pleasant feeling experienced with the body. In the third jhāna, one dwells experiencing this pleasure with the body. It is abandoned, along with bodily pain, for the fourth jhāna to arise.

Also known as: pleasant abiding, positive state of mind, sense of ease
Pāli: sukha
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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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Last updated on July 27, 2026