The Buddha teaches the four noble truths regarding indra’s pillar, urging mendicants to practice for direct knowledge of suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

SN 56.39 Indra’s pillar

“Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā brāhmaṇā ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti, te aññassa samaṇassa brāhmaṇassa mukhaṁ ullokenti: ‘ayaṁ nūna bhavaṁ jānaṁ jānāti, passaṁ passatī’ti.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, tūlapicu kappāsapicu lahuko vātūpādāno same bhūmibhāge nikkhitto. Tamenaṁ puratthimo vāto pacchimena saṁhareyya, pacchimo vāto puratthimena saṁhareyya, uttaro vāto dakkhiṇena saṁhareyya, dakkhiṇo vāto uttarena saṁhareyya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Lahukattā, bhikkhave, kappāsapicuno.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ye hi keci samaṇā brāhmaṇā ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti, te aññassa samaṇassa brāhmaṇassa mukhaṁ ullokenti: ‘ayaṁ nūna bhavaṁ jānaṁ jānāti, passaṁ passatī’ti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Adiṭṭhattā, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ.

Ye ca kho keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā brāhmaṇā ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti …pe… ‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti, te na aññassa samaṇassa brāhmaṇassa mukhaṁ ullokenti: ‘ayaṁ nūna bhavaṁ jānaṁ jānāti, passaṁ passatī’ti.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ayokhīlo indakhīlo gambhīranemo sunikhāto acalo asampakampī. Puratthimāya cepi disāya āgaccheyya bhusā vātavuṭṭhi, neva saṅkampeyya na sampakampeyya na sampacāleyya; pacchimāya cepi disāya …pe… uttarāya cepi disāya …pe… dakkhiṇāya cepi disāya āgaccheyya bhusā vātavuṭṭhi, neva saṅkampeyya na sampakampeyya na sampacāleyya. Taṁ kissa hetu? Gambhīrattā, bhikkhave, nemassa sunikhātattā indakhīlassa.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ye ca kho keci samaṇā brāhmaṇā ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti …pe… ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti, te na aññassa samaṇassa brāhmaṇassa mukhaṁ ullokenti: ‘ayaṁ nūna bhavaṁ jānaṁ jānāti, passaṁ passatī’ti. Taṁ kissa hetu? Sudiṭṭhattā, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ. Katamesaṁ catunnaṁ? Dukkhassa ariyasaccassa …pe… dukkhanirodhagāminiyā paṭipadāya ariyasaccassa.

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

Navamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā brāhmaṇā ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti …pe…

“Mendicants, there are ascetics and brahmins who don’t truly understand about suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti, te aññassa samaṇassa brāhmaṇassa mukhaṁ ullokenti:

They gaze up at the face of another ascetic or brahmin, thinking:

‘ayaṁ nūna bhavaṁ jānaṁ jānāti, passaṁ passatī’ti.

‘Surely this worthy one knows and sees.’

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, tūlapicu kappāsapicu lahuko vātūpādāno same bhūmibhāge nikkhitto.

Suppose there was a light tuft of cotton-wool or kapok which was taken up by the wind and landed on level ground.

Tamenaṁ puratthimo vāto pacchimena saṁhareyya, pacchimo vāto puratthimena saṁhareyya, uttaro vāto dakkhiṇena saṁhareyya, dakkhiṇo vāto uttarena saṁhareyya.

The east wind wafts it west; the west wind wafts it east; the north wind wafts it south; and the south wind wafts it north.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Lahukattā, bhikkhave, kappāsapicuno.

It’s because the tuft of cotton-wool is so light.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ye hi keci samaṇā brāhmaṇā ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti …pe…

In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who don’t truly understand about suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ nappajānanti, te aññassa samaṇassa brāhmaṇassa mukhaṁ ullokenti:

They gaze up at the face of another ascetic or brahmin, thinking:

‘ayaṁ nūna bhavaṁ jānaṁ jānāti, passaṁ passatī’ti.

‘Surely this worthy one knows and sees.’

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Adiṭṭhattā, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ.

It’s because they haven’t seen the four noble truths.

Ye ca kho keci, bhikkhave, samaṇā brāhmaṇā ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti …pe…

There are ascetics and brahmins who truly understand about suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

‘ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti, te na aññassa samaṇassa brāhmaṇassa mukhaṁ ullokenti:

They don’t gaze up at the face of another ascetic or brahmin, thinking:

‘ayaṁ nūna bhavaṁ jānaṁ jānāti, passaṁ passatī’ti.

‘Surely this worthy one knows and sees.’

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, ayokhīlo indakhīlo gambhīranemo sunikhāto acalo asampakampī.

Suppose there was an iron pillar or an Indra’s pillar with deep foundations, firmly embedded, imperturbable and unshakable.

Puratthimāya cepi disāya āgaccheyya bhusā vātavuṭṭhi, neva saṅkampeyya na sampakampeyya na sampacāleyya; pacchimāya cepi disāya …pe… uttarāya cepi disāya …pe… dakkhiṇāya cepi disāya āgaccheyya bhusā vātavuṭṭhi, neva saṅkampeyya na sampakampeyya na sampacāleyya.

Even if violent storms were to blow up out of the east, the west, the north, and the south, they couldn’t make it shake or rock or tremble.

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Gambhīrattā, bhikkhave, nemassa sunikhātattā indakhīlassa.

It’s because that Indra’s pillar is firmly embedded, with deep foundations.

Evameva kho, bhikkhave, ye ca kho keci samaṇā brāhmaṇā ‘idaṁ dukkhan’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti …pe…

In the same way, there are ascetics and brahmins who truly understand about suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

ayaṁ dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā’ti yathābhūtaṁ pajānanti, te na aññassa samaṇassa brāhmaṇassa mukhaṁ ullokenti:

They don’t gaze up at the face of another ascetic or brahmin, thinking:

‘ayaṁ nūna bhavaṁ jānaṁ jānāti, passaṁ passatī’ti.

‘Surely this worthy one knows and sees.’

Taṁ kissa hetu?

Why is that?

Sudiṭṭhattā, bhikkhave, catunnaṁ ariyasaccānaṁ.

It’s because they have clearly seen the four noble truths.

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 …”

Navamaṁ.

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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Imperturbable

Imperturbable

A stable clarity of mind that does not react strongly to changing circumstances, remaining even and composed in both pleasant and difficult conditions.

Also known as: unagitated, unmoved, unruffled, unshaken, untroubled, unwavering, without mental unease
Pāli: aparitassa, anigha, aneja, avihaññamāna
View all discourses →
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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Last updated on July 27, 2026