Dhammacakkapavatana Sutta

DHAMMACAKKAPAVATANA SUTTA 

Thus have I heard, at one time the Buddha was staying at Isipatana, near Varanasi. At that time, the Blessed One expounded the supreme knowledge he had realised to the group of five ascetics. 

"There are two extremes that one who has gone forth from worldly life should not practise. Which two? 1) That which is devoted to sensual pleasure with reference to sense objects, which is lowly, common, vulgar, unworthy and unprofitable; and 2) That which is devoted to self-affliction, which is painful, unworthy and unprofitable. Avoiding both of these extremes, the Middle Path realised by the Tathagata produces vision and knowledge, and leads to tranquility, to direct insight, to the extinction of defilements, to enlightenment, to Nibbana." 

"And what is the Middle Path realised by the Tathagata that produces vision and knowledge, and leads to tranquility, to direct insight, to the extinction of defilements, to enlightenment, to Nibbana? It is the Noble Eightfold Path of right understanding, right thoughts, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration. This is the Middle Path realised by the Tathagata that produces vision and knowledge, and leads to tranquility, to direct insight, to the extinction of defilements, to enlightenment, to Nibbana."

"Now this, monks, is the Noble Truth of Suffering. Birth is suffering, ageing is suffering, death is suffering; sorrow, grief, lamentation, pain & despair are suffering; association with those who are unpleasant is suffering,  separation from those who are pleasant is suffering, not getting what one wants is suffering. In short, the five clinging aggregates of form, feelings, thoughts, impulsive reactions and consciousness are suffering."

"Now this, monks, is the Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering. The craving that makes for further becoming, accompanied by passion & delight, relishing here & there, i.e. craving for sensual pleasure, craving for becoming, craving for non-becoming."

"Now this, monks, is the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering. The complete cessation, renunciation, relinquishment, release & letting go of that very craving."

"Now this, monks, is the Noble Truth of the Path leading to the Cessation of Suffering. It is the Noble Eightfold Path of right understanding, right thoughts, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration."

"And, monks, as long as my knowledge and vision concerning these Four Noble Truths, in three phases and twelve aspects, was not pure and complete, I did not claim to have attained incomparable perfect enlightenment, which is unsurpassed and supreme in the cosmos, with its deities, maras & brahmas, with its contemplatives & brahmans, its royalty & commonfolk. But as soon as my knowledge and vision concerning these Four Noble Truths, in three phases and twelve aspects, was truly pure and complete, then I did claim to have attained incomparable perfect enlightenment, which is unsurpassed and supreme in the cosmos, with its deities, maras & brahmas, with its contemplatives & brahmans, its royalty & commonfolk. Knowledge & vision arose in me, 'Unprovoked, firm and indestructible is my release, this is my last birth, there is now no more rebirth or becoming for me.'"

That is what the Buddha said. Gratified, the group of five monks were delighted and greatly rejoiced in the profound wisdom of the Blessed One. After this discourse on these Noble Truths was expounded by the Blessed One, there arose in Venerable Kondanna, the dustless, stainless Dhamma eye, vision of truth. 'Whatever is subject to origination, is also subject to cessation.'

And when the Blessed One had set the Wheel of Dhamma in motion, the earth devas cried out: "At Isipatana, near Varanasi, the Blessed One has set in motion the unsurpassed Wheel of Dhamma that cannot be hindered or stopped by brahman or contemplative, deva, mara or brahma, or anyone at all in the cosmos." After hearing these agreeable words spoken by the earth devas', the devas of the Four Kings' Heaven, the devas of the Thirty-three, the Yama devas, the Tusita devas, the Nimmanarati devas, the Paranimmita-vasavatti devas, the devas of Brahma's retinue took up the cry, "At Isipatana, near Varanasi, the Blessed One has set in motion the unsurpassed Wheel of Dhamma that cannot be hindered or stopped by brahman or contemplative, deva, mara or brahma, or anyone at all in the cosmos."

At that moment, that instant, the cry shot right up to the Brahma worlds. And the ten-thousand fold cosmos, shook, quivered and trembled, while a great, measureless sublime radiance appeared in all directions, surpassing the effulgence and powers of all celestial beings. 

Then the Blessed One exclaimed: "So you truly understand, Kondanna. You truly understand". Thus, the name 'Kondanna who knows', was given.