The Buddha teaches the four noble truths regarding a gentleman (2nd)—suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the practice leading to its cessation.

SN 56.4 A Gentleman (2nd)

“Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, atītamaddhānaṁ kulaputtā sammā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitā yathābhūtaṁ abhisamesuṁ, sabbe te cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisamesuṁ. Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ kulaputtā sammā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitā yathābhūtaṁ abhisamessanti, sabbe te cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisamessanti. Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, etarahi kulaputtā sammā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitā yathābhūtaṁ abhisamenti, sabbe te cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisamenti.

Katamāni cattāri? Dukkhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ, dukkhasamudayaṁ ariyasaccaṁ, dukkhanirodhaṁ ariyasaccaṁ, dukkhanirodhagāminī paṭipadā ariyasaccaṁ. Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, atītamaddhānaṁ kulaputtā sammā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitā yathābhūtaṁ abhisamesuṁ …pe… abhisamessanti …pe… abhisamenti, sabbe te imāni cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisamenti.

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

Catutthaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, atītamaddhānaṁ kulaputtā sammā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitā yathābhūtaṁ abhisamesuṁ, sabbe te cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisamesuṁ.

“Mendicants, whatever gentlemen—past,

Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, anāgatamaddhānaṁ kulaputtā sammā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitā yathābhūtaṁ abhisamessanti, sabbe te cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisamessanti.

future,

Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, etarahi kulaputtā sammā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitā yathābhūtaṁ abhisamenti, sabbe te cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisamenti.

or present—truly comprehend after rightly going forth from the lay life to homelessness, all of them truly comprehend the 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. …

Ye hi keci, bhikkhave, atītamaddhānaṁ kulaputtā sammā agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitā yathābhūtaṁ abhisamesuṁ …pe…

abhisamessanti …pe…

abhisamenti, sabbe te imāni cattāri ariyasaccāni yathābhūtaṁ abhisamenti.

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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Ill will

Ill will

A mental quality of actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, manifesting as deliberate thoughts or intentions that oppose kindness and compassion; it fuels conflict and obstructs goodwill.

Also known as: actively opposing or rejecting others in thought, thought of malevolence towards another, hostile reflections towards another
Pāli: byāpāda
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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